Night of the Arts

Last night was the annual District-wide Art Show. As a Senior portfolio student, Kate not only had a large display of her work, but she herself was on display working on a painting in the art room as people meandered in and out.


Her display in the show included photography and a charcoal self-portrait,...


pottery and paintings,...


Including her series on playground memories, (see the shoes?).


Erin and Isaac also had work displayed. Erin's class made clay masks.


Isaac designed a "Recreational Vehicle".


Once we soaked in the artsiness, we had to get over to Isaac's school where he was participating in the class play, "Rats!" Based on the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the show was adorable.

The rats stage their coup-


Isaac delivered his lines flawlessly- his part required being interrupted and starting again, something for which he's been training his whole life!
(The picture is kinda dark, but he's in the middle, wearing the vest.)

As the school year draws to a close there will be much busy-ness, but last night gave us a glimpse of what fun the kids are having when they're not cramming their brains full of knowledge! So cute, so fun, and making friends in the process as well!

Spring Really Has Arrived!

Okay, this time I'm sure, Spring is here! If we have a blizzard this weekend nobody will call me overly optimistic for deciding that it's indeed safe to pack away the turtlenecks. The time for switching out our winter wardrobe has arrived and the kids are wearing shorts to school. No more sweaters or socks, short sleeves and flip-flops are the order of the day. Isaac has finished his soccer season, but the coach has offered to keep the boys practicing in order to improve their play and hopefully love of the game.



More exciting than changes in wardrobe however is the transformation occurring outdoors! Hostas and flowers are already bursting from the ground in full glory. Azaleas and dogwoods are in full bloom throughout the yard and we even found a lilac bush displaying her fragrant wares yesterday. The woods are no longer carpeted with only last year's leaves, the bluebells and ferns are taking over. Everywhere the delicate, multi-hued blossoms of Columbine are dancing in the breeze. Not only are the birds back in full force, but they're hungry enough to empty a full feeder on a daily basis! Their songs throughout the day more than compensate for the feed we're pouring into them.



Due to the return of growing grass we have finally purchased a lawn tractor- a gorgeous Huskvarna that will not only keep the lawn mown, but also assist in hauling chores. When the time comes to start pulling out the evergreen ground cover that is swallowing the flower beds our Husky will be equal to the challenge. The yuccas will also take some effort to remove, but it will be worth every bit.



Now that we are beginning to see what is planted in the yard, we are making some decisions about what to remove. While the evergreen stuff growing low to the ground may have been a low-maintenance choice to plant, we'd rather replace it with something softer to the touch and the eye. Had our yard been a blank slate I wouldn't have known where to begin. But with so many beds defined and planted it's easier to see what to keep and what to change.I've planted some pansies in the beds near the front door, thrilled to contribute my own bit to the landscaping.



Speaking of change, We are about to have another huge shift in our family. Kate will be graduating in a few short weeks! It's so hard to believe that the time is almost upon us. We have calendars after all- how did it sneak up like this? Plans for the graduation are swinging into play now with my Dad returning for the festivities and a gathering to celebrate. Prom will be in two weeks, so that is also in the works and causing no little bit of excitement.

Oh, the excitement!

And He's Off Again...

We've had a marvelous two weeks with Nathaniel. Catching up, looking at his pictures from Iraq, introducing him to our new home and friends. It's been mostly busy, with some relief now and then. Jim, Kate and Bekah are driving him to the Philadelphia airport as I type.

While here Nathaniel was able to experience a range of weather, mostly cold and dreary, some snow, ending with lovely warm Springtime temperatures. Right now the window next to me is open and I'm listening to the early morning birds and Isaac shooting hoops in the driveway as he waits for his bus. Not only did we have family and friend time, but Nathaniel was asked by several of the kids' teachers to come speak to their classes at school and Sunday School. He took his laptop and was able to show a slideshow of photos, some Google Earth images of where in the world he is over there, and answered lots of questions. We cooked some of his favorite foods besides doing a comprehensive survey of the local restaurants and I believe we all put on a few pounds each. There must be some Italian genes in our family somewhere, because we do a lot of eating when we're "sharing the love"!

All in all, it was a good visit. While this area isn't "home" to our eldest, he was home with us and the time spent together was precious. Now we pray for his continued safety in traveling back to the theater of operations, Philly to Atlanta, to Germany, to Kuwait, to Iraq. His job there is as safe as being in Iraq could be, but prayers for his safety and wisdom for his daily choices as well as his career decisions are most welcome. He's been fixing his helicopters, he's daily more ready to begin the process which will lead to flying them.

'Nuff said for now, on to the slideshow! (To read the captions, pass your mouse over the individual photos.)

Nathaniel's Home!

He's Here! Nathaniel arrived Easter Sunday, having flown from Iraq to Kuwait to Germany to Atlanta and finally to Philly! Without a cell phone he used a pay phone in Atlanta to inform us of his arrival time, then borrowed a cell phone to call us once his plane landed in Philly. We were, fortunately already waiting at the airport- as close to the gate as we could get- so we got him straight away. My parents were able to also be part of the welcoming committee as we all hugged, cried and photographed the event.

We had a fabulous and busy few days with the whole family together before my Dad left, then two more days with Mom. Showing Nathaniel the sights and introducing him to our new home has been interesting to say the least. And now we may even be able to take him sledding and have roaring fires in the fireplace since there is a severe winter storm bearing down on us... oh yeah.

There's too much to say this morning, so now for the photos and I'll flesh out what we've been doing in my next post!

Cheerio!

Big catch up!

Wow, it's been too long since I've made the time to blog! Life has been coming at us fast now and since it won't be slowing down soon I'd better catch things up. The Reader's Digest version will have to do...

First of all, Spring was merely teasing us it seems, we ended up with a blizzard on the day that Kate and I had planned to drive across the state to see friends in Grove City! My forecast showed that the snow wouldn't be bad, and it would start late in the day. So Kate and I headed out in the morning to get North of the storm onto Interstate 80. We ended up driving into the teeth of the storm for almost 8 hours- never faster than 40 milers per hour- a trip that ought to have been 4 hours. It was worth it though, our visit with the Welkers was a blessing. Kate and Gabby picked up with their friendship right where they left off 8 years ago. It was fun to be with Lisa and Randy and their kids with the kids actually participating in our conversations instead of off playing in the next room the way our visits were so long ago. We delivered Gabby's airline tickets for her portion of our European vacation and laid down rule number 1: while in Europe, NO McFood! Our time flew and even though we added a day our departure came all too soon.

Since then we have started soccer practices for Isaac, continued archery, Kate went on a Senior class trip to Washington DC, Isaac won "Best Original Design" for his Pinewood Derby car which he, not Jim, designed, we repainted the family room, and waited as the weather slowly warmed.

We also welcomed Laura's family from Germany into our home for an authentic American meal while they are here on vacation. Jim and I dusted off our German for the evening and were surprised at how conversant we could yet be! The evening was so nice and the Groegers agreed to take our Kate in for her ten-day break from L'Abri in October. She'll need to leave Switzerland for her break, thus eliminating the need to apply for a visa.

For a few days last week we were actually opening the windows and wearing flip-flops. Last weekend we were all out in the yard cleaning the winter dreck out of the flower beds and finding many new spring plants working their way up into the sunshine. Now that Easter weekend is here and Papaw, (Barbaranne's father) arrived yesterday, it's cold again. Snow flurries even. I had forgotten how the Spring will tease us with warmth then cold before finally settling on warm weather up here. We are awaiting Grandmommy's arrival and a phone call from Nathaniel to let us know when to pick him up in Philadelphia. He should be leaving Iraq today for Kuwait, from where he will fly home for a two-week break. We're all on pins and needles...

Now for a slide show of what we've been up to. To see the captions just pass your mouse over the photo as it slides by. Enjoy!

Could it Be?...

It appears, and perhaps this is a hasty conclusion, but it really seems as if Spring is springing! The temperatures are suddenly warmer, snow is melting and birds sing. My window is actually open to catch the pleasant breeze and chittering of the birds. We will soon learn what is planted in the gardens all across our two acres; already some little yellow flowers are blooming near the front door- buttercups perhaps? Next sunny day I'll have to get out with a rake and pruning shears to do some clean-up in the yard.

Kate is at outdoor Lacrosse practice and it will soon be time for Isaac's Spring Soccer practices to begin. oy... Archery practice will move outdoors in the fields and woods around the club. They'll use the bullseye-type targets as well as 3D animals, that'll be interesting.

I know better than to stow away the winter coats, it is still March after all, and the weekend forecast threatens a chance of snow, (in which I'll be driving across the state, thank you very much). March is traditionally muddy, not yet springtime pretty. But the birdsong and occasional temperate breeze are encouraging. Too much cold gloomy weather makes me want to curl up and hibernate. It's about time to consider waking up and spending time outdoors!

Planning for Visits, Trips and Paint

As the cold winter wind howls past my window, I've been curling up with a few good books. Travel Guides specifically, for Europe, London, Paris and Switzerland. With Kate going to L'Abri and planning to take the train during her 10 day break in October to see Laura in Germany, my delivery of her will be an educational trip. I'm brushing up on my own skills in order to teach her to buy train tickets, metro passes and navigate like a "local" instead of a tourist while in Europe. Over a year ago we started planning to go to London together as a post-graduation treat. Now it's gone from a mere trip to delivering her to L'Abri, which will involve not only speaking English in London, but now also getting around in French, (2 or 3 days in Paris) and some German, (parts of Switzerland and her break) as well. The nature and timing of our journey- and our own personal leanings- have us booking an independent vacation as opposed to an organized tour package. We want to be flexible and on our own. The Louvre may end up requiring twice the time a tour guide would give us and we may just want to spend an entire hour or more chillin' at a cafe table and watching the people go by.

Thus far I've managed to book every hotel we will need except for the final night in Geneva. I'm waiting for the responses to my email queries now. Our flights are ticketed so that's a huge weight off my mind. We'll be spending a few days in London before being joined by one of Kate's young childhood friends, Gabby, from Grove City. Gabby will have two days with us in London, and travel with us the rest of the way, returning with me after we leave Kate at L'Abri. Once all the rooms are locked in I can relax a bit and focus on current life. This weekend Kate and I are driving to Grove City to spend some time with Gabby's family and plan, plan, plan!

life now is rather full and will take a bit of focusing on. The kitty is convalescing from her spaying last week. Ten days in a confined room as she heals. The first stage of recovery is behind us and she's doing well. Now if she'll just learn that we want only the best for her and trust us again... Only time can fix that.

My parents each have their travel plans in place to come up here for Easter and to see Nathaniel. He'll be coming home in early April for a couple of weeks. It's hard to believe that April is almost here! In our excitement we have decided to go ahead and finish painting the family room, including painting the trim white. This will keep us occupied, (we needed this?) as well as providing a deadline by which to finish. We won't have time to replace the carpet- I believe, but the labor intensive portion, (for us) will be done.

And for recreation we are now members of the Reading Archery Club. Jim has been taking the kids to shoot with the club equipment, working with a coach there, to determine if they would like to pursue archery and if so, what sort of equipment they would need. As it turns out, they all, (Bekah, Erin and Isaac) enjoy archery tremendously and seem to have a knack for it. Jim arranged to meet the coach, Rich, at an archery store to purchase bows and accessories for the kids a couple of weeks ago. The bow they chose for Bekah is an impressive rig, competition ready. Hiawatha never saw such a weapon! They'll be going at least once a week to practice. While signing them up, Jim found out that Rich, who's been helping them along, is a Nationally recognized coach under the Olympic Archery program, and several Olympic Archers have come out of this very club. Pretty cool.

And speaking of Bekah, her back is coming along fine. We'll go see the Orthopedic doctor today, but the Physical Therapist evaluated her progress after a month of seeing him and declared that her therapy is working. While her spine isn't straight- not what we expected- it is improving with the exercises that she's been doing on a daily basis. We'll see what the other Doctor says, but she may not have to wear a brace if the progress continues. We just need to remember to do the exercises!

That's all for now- on to laundry!

Quiet Monday

Well, it's been quite a week. After my last post regarding the newer snow I took the kids and some friends into Shillington to go sledding at the park. When we were first up here and not yet in the house, I used to hang out at the local library and the ladies who work there were all very friendly and informative about living in this area. That's where I learned that Shillington park has one of the best sledding hills for miles around- and were they ever right! There's a huge, I really mean huge, hill in the back of the park with a single lane road barely cleared of snow by which it can be accessed. We all piled out of the van with the sleds, and while most of us gaped at the enormity of the distance to the bottom, Isaac hopped right onto his sled and hit the hill! Watching his red coat fly down I didn't know whether to laugh, panic or call 911! When he made it to the bottom and grabbed the sled to trudge back up for another run we all breathed a sigh of relief.

The kids sledded until they couldn't feel their behinds, and I took a turn even- so fun- and we returned home to collapse in sheer exhilarated exhaustion. Sadly, there are no photos from the park since we forgot the camera. We would have taken it with us for a re-do this last Saturday, but the thawing and re-freezing all week turned all the snow surfaces to ice and it would have been sheer suicide to attempt that hill again. We may get another chance yet as it snowed again yesterday and the forecast doesn't appear to have a big thaw in the near future.


Meanwhile, Erin had her 12th birthday party at a local bead shop where she and her friends made matching bracelets before enjoying pizza and cake. The shop is in Knauers and her bus passes it every day going to and from Isaac's school. She has looked forward to having her party there for as long as we have lived here.

Monday nights for the past few weeks have found Jim taking Bekah, Erin and Isaac to the local Archery Club for archery lessons. The club has an indoor range and all the paraphernalia that they need to use as they learn the sport. Evidently Erin has quite the gift for archery. That's right, the one child who will never take aim at any furry beast. Fortunately,there are plenty of non-living targets for her to practice with. Monday nights is turning into a special time for Dad and the kids; I'm glad Jim has been able to find the time to get them there each week.

I said it was a busy week, but actually the week had a rather slow start for me. I was knocked out with a cold for the first half of the week, so not much was done for several days. Ever since my car accident in 2002 my upper back is my "early warning system" for illness. I get sore right between my shoulder blades and it stays sore until the last sniffle passes. Aches and pains have taken on a whole new meaning for me in that regard. At least I had a new novel to keep me occupied. Now I've finally read Jane Eyre, good book.

This weekend we took a pass on having anyone over, just to have a quiet Sunday to ourselves, and don't you know a severe weather advisory pops up on Saturday to warn us that a winter storm is blowing in Sunday afternoon. Anybody we invited would have had to cancel or end up stuck here. So Jim and the kids played outdoors as it snowed and gathered firewood into the house while Bekah and I slowly prepared a late lunch of southern fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Okay, not on the healthy heart menu, but oh, so tasty. I haven't fried chicken in years. I'm talking the real thing here, total immersion frying- yum!

As penance, or maybe just for the health of it, I shoveled the driveway this morning. If I can't get out on the roads to get to the gym I need to do something cardio-wise, and boy, the driveway sure fit the bill! Last week we didn't get one end of the drive cleared before the softening and re-freezing cycle got going and we have a glacier covering that part of the driveway now that none of us can move. Not wanting that to happen to the entire thing this week was also part of my motivation to take up the shovel I suppose.

I'm sure there's more to tell, I simply can't think of anything else. Enough rambling from me. BA out-

Snow Day Two!

Wow, a second snow day! Because tomorrow and next Monday were already going to be days off from school, that means we are having a 6-day weekend!

Yesterday Erin and Isaac spent more time outdoors than indoors- quite a feat considering that it was either sleeting or snowing until around 4-ish. Sometime around 3 Jim discovered a need that only Lowes could meet and, considering that the snow plows had been back and forth until we could see pavement, Jim suited up and raised the garage door. Alas, the driveway was covered by a foot of snow! So he took up arms, (in this case- the snow shovel) and spent the next three hours getting half of our circular drive cleared. Kate helped with a garden shovel, which is a frustratingly slow way to clear a driveway. Remembering that ours is the only driveway on our street that is level with the road, instead of an uphill pull to it, helps some, I suppose. The trip to Lowes was eventually accomplished and we now have another snow shovel besides the other stuff Jim needed.

The girls went with Jim to help him navigate the grocery store where they picked up the ingredients for two more soups to keep our insides warm over the next few days. Bekah will be making a Potato Soup from her Italian cookbook and I'll put together a White Chicken Chili that is absolutely Scrumdiddlyumptious! I'll post the Chili recipe here since I know you'll love it too!

Simply Marvelous White Chicken Chili

From Annie Sallade

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 ½ tsp. Butter

1 C diced Onion

2 C diced Celery

2 C chopped Red, Yellow and/or Green Pepper (your choice)

2 cloves minced Garlic

1 tsp minced jalapeno

1 7oz bottle of Beer

1 can diced Tomatoes

1 can Kidney or Pinto Beans

1 can Chicken Broth

½ lb. Chicken, cooked and diced, (4 – 5 breasts)

1 ½ tsp Chili Powder

3 tsp. Sugar

2 tsp. Sea Salt

1 ½ tsp. Pepper

1 ½ tsp. Onion Powder

1 dash Tabasco

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

¼ tsp. Celery Salt

½ tsp. Cayenne Powder

¾ C. Milk

6 Tbsp Half-n-Half combined with 3 Tbsp Cornstarch

In a large stock pot, gently sauté the onion, celery, pepper, garlic, and jalapeno in the oil and butter for about 15 minutes. Add beer, tomatoes, beans and chicken. Then add seasonings, sugar, broth, and Tabasco. Bring to a boil and add milk and cornstarch mixture, stirring to combine well. Lower heat to a low simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring often. Adjust the amounts to your taste, add more broth if it gets too thick, and be sure to serve with a loaf of wonderful bread! Yum, yum, yum!

Finally, I'll add that I will be heading out on the roads myself today in order to get snow pants for Kate and Bekah, who are joining the school's ski club for a "field trip" tomorrow. Gotta keep our girlies warm and dry! I also need to call about rescheduling Emmi's "fix". She's figured out that we're not hiding any Toms in the house and is getting curious about who might be outside...

Valentines in the Snow

Finally getting back to blog all about what's going on with us! The big news is, we are having our first official Snow Day! Even Jim is snowed in with us as the roads are immpassible. We've had to change routines for the weather, which hasn't happened for us since hurricane Wilma in Florida. Jim's working on his laptop across the table from me as I type in the media/ dining room while Bekah, Erin and Isaac are playing in the snow/ sleet outside. I'm genuinely surprised at how very adaptable these kids are, considering they spent the last 7 years in the sunshine state, where 50's were freezing temps. Now they can't wait to get out into this nasty cold stuff! Brrr!

To catch up on a number of fronts; Bekah is now in physical therapy for her scoliosis, we go three times a week for her to work with the therapists and she exercises every day at home to strengthen her core which will hopefully help to arrest the development of her curve.

Emmi is warming up to us again after the trauma of medictaion at our hands. She was supposed to go in this morning to be spayed, but we can't get out of the driveway, much less driving uphill and downhill, so she'll remain a hostage to her hormones for a while longer- poor thing. She wanders the house yowling for a boyfriend...

Kate went on an Art class field trip to NYC a couple of Fridays ago and had herself a blast! She was astounded to see real life Van Gogh paintings, among others, in the Metropolitain Museum of Art and enjoyed Times Square at lunchtime with her friends. It was quite cold, so her souvineer was a warm and fuzzy hat bought from a vendor.


The day she was in NYC was the first time we had our Couples Bible Study here for dinner and study. We have really been blessed by this group of dear Christian couples and feel quite at home with our new church. This Sunday, (the 18th) we will be accepted as members of Covenant OPC.

Kate and Rebekah, with Laura along as well, joined the youth group for tubing at a nearby ski resort last Saturday. The adult in charge is a physical therapist associated with the PT we are taking Bekah to, and he declared that Bekah just may have straightened out her spine on some of the runs down the hill! (kidding of course)


Vali is enjoying the snow as well as the kids. Kate and I took her out for an explore yesterday before it got too severe, (the kids were sent home from school early since the weather was deteriorating so rapidly) and Vali learned the joy of chasing pine cones in the snow. She'd find one, toss it about, then run to find it a gain. So fun. There's finally a snow pigmy in the yard- the kids used my scarf of course- and it's nearly buried with the new snowfall.

She can have my scarf, I've taken up knitting. I can only knit scarves, one direction, no changes, just figuring out how to finish at the end. Erin and Bekah are also knitting scarves, which is fun because they have each chosen such unique yarns with which to work.

The sleet has changed back to snow now, and we've just watched the snow plow make 4 runs down our street. Erin is out sledding with the neighborhood girls, Bekah and Isaac are thawing out in front of the tv and Emmi is running up and down the stairs, meowing her frantic little heart out. Enjoy the pictures, and those of you in Florida, enjoy your relative warmth. This time last year I was watching the national weather and chuckling to myself- so go ahead!

Busy week!

This was a big week for us. Erin, who alone among the kids has inherited my tendency toward crooked teeth, finally got braces! Her top 6 teeth are the initial concern and so instead of a mouthful, the Orthodontist just wired those few. While she's now getting past the soreness, the novelty is still fresh. Learning different eating habits will take a while. She's up to the challenge though. We bought soft foods for her initial painful few days, but she's back to solid foods now.

I got to have a special day on Wednesday with my new friend Cheryl. Our mutual friend, Sue, introduced us when I moved up here, just 45 minutes from Cheryl. She and I met for lunch once when we first lived here, then she came here for lunch before Thanksgiving. Yesterday was my turn to go to her home and what a treat that was! The drive was lovely, I can imagine it's just beautiful in the summertime. I drove through several quaint old villages with the "main street" look to them, and worth exploring when it's warmer. The soup was yummy and the fellowship sweet. What a relaxing day.

While there I got a very excited call from Kate. She had checked her email at school and was overjoyed to find a response to her application to L'Abri in Switzerland- she's been accepted for the fall term! As we have been exploring Kate's options for post-high school plans, the idea of sending her to college right away has come more and more into question. Rebekah has a more solid idea of what she wants to do in her adult life than does Kate, why send her off to college now when she's not sure of what she wants? Launching her out without a plan is equally unwise, so we prayed for wisdom and direction. Her friendship with Laura became the key which led us to L'Abri. Kate's artistic bend and desire to see and photograph Europe, coupled with her love of Theology and philosophy mesh well with what she could learn at L'Abri; just how does all that work in the real world? The following is from the L'Abri website, describing their history and vision:

L'Abri Fellowship began in Switzerland in 1955 when Francis and Edith Schaeffer decided in faith to open their home to be a place where people might find satisfying answers to their questions and practical demonstration of Christian care. It was called L'Abri, the French word for "shelter," because they sought to provide a shelter from the pressures of a relentlessly secular 20th century. As time went by, so many people came that others were called to join the Schaeffers in their work, and more branches were established.

There have been perhaps four main emphases in the teaching of L'Abri. ............................................................................................................................ First, that Christianity is objectively true and that the Bible is God's written word to mankind. This means that biblical Christianity can be rationally defended and honest questions are welcome. ............................................................................................................................ Second, because Christianity is true it speaks to all of life and not to some narrowly religious sphere and much of the material produced by L'Abri has been aimed at helping develop a Christian perspective on the arts, politics and the social sciences etc. ............................................................................................................................ Third, in the area of our relationship with God, true spirituality is seen in lives which by grace are free to be fully human rather than in trying to live on some higher spiritual plane or in some grey negative way. ............................................................................................................................ Fourth, the reality of the fall is taken seriously. Until Christ returns we and the world we live in will be affected by the disfigurement of sin. Although the place of the mind is emphasized, L'Abri is not a place for "intellectuals only". ............................................................................................................................ We are as concerned for living as we are for thinking and from the beginning the concern has been that the truth is as much exhibited in everyday life as it is defended in discussion. We do not do this perfectly of course but depend on the Lord to bring forth a measure of reality in our daily life.

Bringing forth a measure of reality in daily life- that's what Kate is looking for, and her parents too!

Today Kate is on a field trip in New York City with her art class. I've already gotten a couple of excited phone calls, sharing with me what she's doing and seeing. They've just left the Metropolitan Museum of Art and are on their way to Rockefeller Center for lunch. The temperature in NYC today was supposed to hover near zero degrees- but I've not heard any complaints about the cold! I can't wait to see the pictures and will be sure to post some here as well. I may even persuade Kate to be my "guest columnist" once again.


I've got to run now. Tonight we are hosting the couples' Bible study and it's time to do some picking up. I'll be making a main dish for the dinner we'll share and everyone else will bring the rest of the meal, salad to dessert. The ground outside is covered with snow and the sun is shining, what a beautiful day!

Winter is here at last!

We finally have a gentle introduction to winter! On Friday we awoke to a dusting of snow and the kids went wild! This morning the schools had a two-hour delay because there was more snow. Not enough to build a snow fort, but enough to be very careful on the roads.

Our weekend was busy, following a rather full week. On Friday I took Erin to the doctor for the second day in a row trying to determine the source of the spots covering her body, oh yeah, all over her trunk. To make it more interesting, the neighbor girl, also named Erin, with whom our Erin spent the night a couple of times over the previous weekend, was also afflicted with this mystery illness! After blood tests and throat swabs all known contagions were ruled out and the puzzle was solved when the doctor asked if they'd been in a hot tub. Bingo! Hot tub folliculitis, (sp?) it is! Non-contagious, self limiting, and a result of sitting in a hot tub. So Erin did a week's worth of homework over the weekend to catch up for returning today.

Something else that came out of our doctor visit is that Rebekah's spine has a 21 degree curve which warrants a specialist's attention. Our Bible Study leader, John Sallade, is a Physician who has a number of orthopedic and physical therapy practices in the area, the office closest to us manned by a spine specialist who often deals with scoliosis patients. We're making an appointment with him today to pursue treatment.

Friday evening Jim and I joined the Sallades and a woman from our study for dinner and a concert. The Woman's Club of Reading hosts free concerts on a regular basis and Friday we enjoyed the (world renowned) Mendelssohn Quartet. We are learning that Reading is quite friendly to the Arts and there are a number of venues to access concerts and exhibits year-round. The quartet was splendid and well worth a costly ticket, yet offered for free. What a treat.

Saturday found us going in various directions as Kate went skiing with Laura's host family's church youth group. Jim and Isaac headed out early for the annual Kub Klondike scouting event where they participated in a number of events from shooting to sledding to cooking in the frozen outdoors. (That's Isaac in the red coat- what a ham!) The afternoon was spent working on the new shelving that Jim is putting in the laundry room which will make us a bit more functional and is a small step into making the house our own through "renovations". For the evening Jim, Isaac and Erin went to watch the Reading Royals ice hockey game with the rest of the scout pack. Bekah went to a youth group party and BA enjoyed a quiet evening at home cooking up some Bolognese sauce for our Sunday lunch.

Yesterday we had the Heinly family over after church. They are not only part of our Bible Study group, but the very first people that we met at church. They have three sons, 16 year-old twins and a 14 year old, and a 10 year-old daughter. We enjoyed a lovely afternoon of food and fellowship.

Now the kids are almost all off to school, this delay throws me off as well! I need to get back into a walking routing with my sweet Vali, but there are many phone calls to make and doctor visits to arrange. Life is full, wonderfully full!

This is Winter?

As we watch the news about the Denver airport getting snowed in and the midwest in a state of emergency due to snow and ice storms, we can't help but wonder why it's still so warm here! Okay, so we're not asking for disasterous snowfall and loss of power, but something in which we can go sledding would be nice. We were fully expecting to have a family of snowmen in the front yard by now. This past weekend was absolute pea-soup fog. Yesterday I had some chauffering to do and there were places where we couldn't see the houses from the road. I dropped Kate off on one of the trips to take photographs in a graveyard that, with the church, dates back to the early 1700's- very interesting with the fog I'm sure. I could barely find her when I went to pick her up 15 minutes, (and 1 1/2 rolls of film) later. Our one tree outside that we put Christmas lights on in December is still decorated, awaiting a blanket of snow through which to shine- I love that. But lately it's simply been a beacon to guide us into the end of the driveway!

On the kitty front, all's well with our puddy-tat. She is finally breathing without congestion and her appetite has therefore returned. We stopped giving her the medicine when it was apparent that she was recovering as the ritual was causing her to regard us with suspicion every time we picked her up. She has claimed the bay window for herself and spends most of her time there. She can't be sunning herself, there's no sun, but the feline attraction to windows holds strong. She and Vali are making nice and will even cuddle now and then. Emmi wears a bell on her collar, so no matter where she is, we hear her when she goes somewhere. Vali hears the bell and runs to escort her wherever she goes. Vali has offered to play with Emmi even, certainly not understanding why she's being refused.


In other news, on Friday I learned from our new doctor that my Cholesterol is rather high. I already knew that of course, as I'm genetically loaded for it on both sides of my family. However, the dietary changes that I need to make, while not drastic from the way I eat already, have me suddenly craving everything fatty and cheesy! It's not like I have Mcfood on a regular basis- in fact, I avoid that stuff passionately- ick! But just thinking about exchanging real creamer for the fat-free stuff in my coffee and choosing brown rice over mashed potatoes has me climbing the walls. I know, I know, if this is my biggest problem... I have only just finished reading Julia Child's autobiography, and was anxious to start in on her cookbook, oh the irony, the injustice, the flavor!

On a serious note, we were at the doctor on Friday for Rebekah's annual physical. A couple of years ago during a routine school screening for scoliosis a bit of a curve was spotted in her back. Our doctor at that time chose to wait it out and see how her continued growth upward would affect her back. Our new doctor took one look at her back and ordered an x-ray to measure the degree of curve. She was able to point out how, if you look for it, you can even see how Bekah's shoulders aren't held straight because of her back. Now, it's not severe, but it is worthy of checking out and maybe even some kind of corrective action. Even a slight curve can cause pain issues now and down the road. I'll update as we find out more.

To end on a high note, we had a special treat last night. Kate picked up her friend, Laura, to come hang out for the evening. On the way here they went to the store and Laura bought the ingredients for a German meal which she then cooked for us! She prepared Schnitzel, (breadcrumbed and fried pork cutlets) and potatoes with peas & carrots in gravy. Yum! (Vytorin, here I come!) What a treat to have a guest chef for an evening. We'll be having her host family to lunch on an upcoming Sunday and I'm already planning a special menu for our sweet German. Perhaps Spaetzle with Jaeger Schnitzel, be still my heart! I'd better survive on broccoli until then.

Life with Emmi

Took Emmi to the vet yesterday and none too soon. The poor thing has a cold- probably a virus- that she picked up at the shelter. She is a tiny little snuffleupagus, sneezing and hacking all the time. Just breathing she sounds like a grown man snoring. We're giving her a liquid antibiotic twice a day to prevent secondary infection. Some of you may not be familiar with cats, but imagine dosing a scared and miserable yet strong little thing with 4 scimitars at the end of each fast and flexible extremity... yeah, we bought band-aids. We are perfecting our technique, but then so is she. Just hoping she doesn't hold a grudge.

Meanwhile, she and Vali are still getting to know one another. The other night, (before Emmi's cold was so bad) while Vali was resting on her chair we settled the sleepy and cuddling kitty next to the big strong dog. Vali's body was suddenly inhabited by a chicken and she was shaking so much it felt like someone had dropped a quarter in the chair and pushed the vibrate button! We held her in place while Emmi snuggled in next to her housemate. Poor Vali, the kitty was purring and snoozing away, obviously plotting nefarious tortures in her dreams. Vali eventually resigned to her fate and calmed down just a bit and we could let go of her. She has been calmer around Emmi since then and has even invited her to play on occasion. Unfortunately Emmi's cold has her focused mostly on breathing, so playing is not on the agenda. But we are on the way to a happier pet family, for which we are grateful.

This past weekend was so warm; 67 degrees on Saturday, that we were able to do our outside stuff without even a sweater. Seems nice, but the plant life is confused. Lots of northern plants need a winter freeze for their seasonal cycle, others kick into springtime mode once it warms up a little. We have been eagerly anticipating the Spring so that we can see what is planted and where in our very carefully landscaped yard. The previous owner spent lots of love and time in her yard, planting and tending a wide variety of shrubs, flowers, ivy and grasses. Now a lovely ornamental shrub is budding and blooming lovely red flowers, which will be frozen off once the cold weather actually arrives. So I cut some of the branches to bring in to enjoy while we have them. I'll get out later today and more fully investigate what else may be pushing up early.

Today is colder and sunny and beautiful. We are supposed to have temperatures closer to the norm for January next week. We have bought snow boots and snow pants, so once it does snow we are prepared. It's terrific to have a legitimate reason to cook cold-weather foods like soups and stews and we're baking more breads, rolls and muffins. Many evenings we have hot cocoa and a fire in the fireplace. Once it gets really cold I'll make the hot-spiced tea for which I bought the ingredients in early December. It must be truely cold for that tea- yum! In the meantime I'm curling up with a kitty in my lap and a good book when the opportunity arises; my happy place!

Here, kitty, kitty, kitty...

We've gone and done it. We have adopted a kitty from the Animal Rescue League. For years we told the kids that once we had a home of our own we'd think about it. Well, we now have said home. Rebekah has especially been campaigning for the fulfillment of that promise, being the least allergic of our tribe. We have learned that with a dosage of Claritin even our sniffliest kid can hang out with a kitty sans sneezing. Having talked it over with Jim, I researched adoption facilities online and found one literally around the corner from home. So yesterday Bekah and I went to take a look. To make a long story short, we came home with a very affectionate two year-old stray female domestic short hair. Her eyes are the most beautiful green, so we have named her Emerald- Emmi for short.

To introduce her to Vali I took a cue from "The Dog Whisperer" and had Vali in a posture of complete submission before bringing Emmi out of the carrier. Vali was so excited, even while on her back, that she was trembling from nose to tail. Emmi, meanwhile, took almost no notice of the big quivering dog. Our biggest hurdle would have been if Emmi flipped out over the presence of a dog, and, thankfully, that is not the case. She seems willing to tolerate, even befriend Vali, if Vali could take a valium and settle down enough to let it happen. On their own they seem to be working out an understanding. When Emmi goes anywhere Vali will follow her and then settle somewhere nearby to watch. Already Emmi is comfortable enough to nap cozily, even while Vali is watching just out of paw's reach.




Now the logistics of who gets her at night need to be worked out... She can only sleep on one bed at a time, and three of the kids want her!

Phone Call from IRAQ!

What a great way to start the day! At 4:30 am my cell phone started ringing at my bedside. Through the haze I initially thought it was my alarm going off, and why is it buzzing too? But once I figured out that it was a call, from a strange number, I answered to hear, "hi Mom!"! We were able to talk for an hour and 20 minutes. Everybody was pulled out of bed to have a chat. He is well and safe and feeling like a pirate king with all the cookies and packages they have recieved. No, they don't have real milk, just stuff engineered to have a 100 year shelf life and brought in from Kuwait. All of the goodies they recieved were divided among the whole platoon and shared. He said that if they'd left it all in the 15 Uniform office it would have been impossible to get in there. There was not a single complaint that cookies arrived stale or broken- since their dining facility isn't the greatest and he resorts to Chef Boy-ar-dee rather often the cookies are quite wonderful regardless of their state upon arrival.

There are still a few kinks for him to work out of their newly built network, but he sounds quite proud of it. His Mac laptop is, apparently, the best computer among his network buddies' machines so he is enjoying the benefits of their internet more than the rest. He actually was calling over an internet connection available on base, not their own- that's coming- but not needing the calling card that I sent. After speaking with us he was going to call his connection in London for further parts needed to fine tune the connection.

After we'd spoken for awhile he asked if anybody else was around, not realizing what time it was for us. When I told him that everyone was home and easy to find because they were in bed he was surprised and apologetic, but I didn't mind at all. I will be needing a nap later-oh boy- but right now I'm as high as a kite!


Thanks again for your prayers and your packages for my soldier, they abundantly appreciated!

Calm Now

The children are all back in school and Jim has gone to work. Vali and I had a nice long walk this morning and then I made various phone calls and folded laundry. Something I want to do this year is work more with our parakeets to better hand-tame them. They're much more pleasant when they can come out and play.

In fact, Cutie-pie is playing with her bell swing on the table next to the computer as I write. But Baby-blue seems to be hiding somewhere... They were both here a minute ago, but when I left the room momentarily I returned to only one bird. The Christmas tree is still up, but thus far I haven't seen him among the boughs. After searching all the hiding places that I can think of, crawling around on my hands and knees, I've decided to wait him out. He and Cutie-pie will start chirping at one another before long and his position will be given away. I sure hope!

While yesterday was quite foggy and somber outdoors, today is gloriously sunny and bright. Cold at the bus stop this morning is giving way to a warmer feeling. The kids are so anxious for snow, but days like today are so few in winter that I'm certainly willing to wait for snow. When the sun is shining throught the windows it helps keep me going with what I need to do throughout the day.

Something else that has lifted my spirits was finding an email from Nathaniel this morning, and he apparently has his new server built and running. He is well, but has reported that none of the multitude of cookies sent have survived. They were all very well appreciated.

I hear chirping, so I'd better run!