Day 359--Researching Oklahoma City

While I was at Mandi's, we got out our calendars and worked on when Nana camps could happen this summer and other times that I need to assist with the kids.  Weston and Ruth want to do their camp together which I was surprised at, but we are working on a small "destination" trip to Oklahoma City--someplace we can drive to and that can be wedged between their many activities of the summer.  I've never spent any time in OKC so know nothing about what is there except the Cowboy Hall of Fame.  I have spent some of my morning investigating, and find there are some pretty nice areas such as a small riverwalk area which is called Bricktown, and there are quite a few museums, etc.  I'm letting the kids help with the planning now that they are so grown-up so we will see what we come up with. One thing I found today is that there is a Women's Pilots Museum there that I think Ruth will want to go to as she is very determined to become one herself!   I love every stage my grandkids hit because I see new and wonderful traits in them during each stage!

Day 358--Morning at the VA

Bill was out of town today so it fell to me to take his dad to the VA for a checkup.  That place is a mad-house for sure!  Wait times are crazy as well.  His dad has never been known for patience so the waiting was hard, but he was a good patient once he was seen.  However,  he was really confused by the time I got him back to his place and that has concerned us.  His memory is always bad but this time was different.  So we are concerned.  The doctor wants him to have a sonogram on his carotid artery because it sounds like it might be somewhat closed up which could cause a stroke.  So we will be doing that next.  We'll just have to wait and see where things progress from here.

Day 357--Meals on Wheels with Mandi

This morning I rode with Mandi as she delivered Meals on Wheels to 5 of her regulars.  While picking up the meals, we ran into Avis' niece who also lives in Flower Mound and she was picking up meals for her people--we didn't know she was working in the program as well so that was a nice surprise and short visit.  I forgot to mention yesterday that Avis has a new granddaughter--Catherine Rose--born on the 17th and coming in at a healthy 8+ pounds!  So I'll post her as my picture for today since I don't have one of Mandi and me delivering or eating lunch--but we had a great time!

Day 356--Getting to Party with some Historical Figures

Today I drove to Flower Mound specifically to visit with Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, AKA Weston and Max.  But I actually got to visit with 14 other historic characters, some of which were Robert E Lee, Rosa Parks, Eli Whitney, Ruth Graham, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and others.  Mandi and her co-worker for CC had their students write history papers of 5 or more paragraphs and then the presentation for the last day of CC was for all those students to present their papers dressed as their character they researched and also to bring a snack for the entire attending audience that was particular to their time period in history.  It was a wonderful program and many kudos to Mandi and her teaching partner for the great job they did with these kids.  I'm so glad I got to go!

Mandi did a great job of being the emcee--except
for breaking the stand for the mic!

Most of the group--Weston the tall Thomas Jefferson
in back and Lincoln (Max) next ton him.

Max visiting with Daniel Boone

Robert E Lee was a riot!  He was definitely in
character the whole time even when serving
his "creamed possum" dip and hardtack!

Day 355--Strange New Tunnel

This strange looking contraption is the bridge that goes over the Leon River near Summer Fun.  The road crew has completely covered it with some kind of tarp to do construction on it and left only one lane for driving.  So we have a tunnel and a traffic light at each end to get from point A to point B when traveling the back way from Belton to Temple and vice versa.  I try to remember to come a different way to avoid it but sometimes forget out of habit.

Day 354--Concert in Copperas Cove

Today Master Singers had a concert in Copperas Cove at a Lutheran Church I had never been to before with the group.  I think this was the second concert they have done there and the first one was a Christmas concerted a few years back.  The people were very receptive and nice and had a spread of food afterwards for us and the attendees.

Day 353--Ty's baseball game

Today I finally got to see Tyler playing machine pitch baseball for the first time.  He is really a great athlete and can slug the ball well.  He played a number of different positions during the game, starting at 3rd base, then first, outfield and finally catcher, which he told me doesn't like to play.  He did really well.  Also the first ballgame I have ever watched with the wind blowing gusts up to about 35 miles an hour!

Slugger

Lots of gear!

Day 352--New Yard gear

I actually do not like working in the yard, but sometimes the right tool makes it so much better.  Bill bought me a battery-powered leaf blower and with all the mess the oak trees are making right now, it is pleasant to get out there with this gadget and get the job done with dragging an extension cord or a heavy blower full of gasoline.  I'm finally staying ahead of the green fuzz from the oaks!

Day 351 -- TBC missions garage sale

Our church has an annual 2-day garage sale with all proceeds going to our missions programs around the world.  This morning, our Bible study group decided we would help with the set up of the sale from 9-12 rather than have our normal study time--we like to also look for outreach projects we can do as a group.  The collection of items began yesterday and by the time we got there today, it was amazing what was already there.  But a steady stream of things came in during the time I was there.  I volunteered for the books, toys, DVD section--ulterior motives aside-- and at noon when I left, we had run out of space.  Hope the ladies after me were creative in their approach to making room for more because they were taking items until 9:00 tonight.  I got the pictures below from a video they shot this morning and put on Facebook of the set up.  Top of pictures are at TBC.

They are also running an auction online currently with the garage sale with items to bid on--as of noon yesterday, the bids for all the items totaled over $12,000 and it doesn't end until Saturday.

Day 350 -- Tulips!

Today, for no particular occasion, Bill brought me these beautiful tulips because he knows they are met favorite flower!  I love this color!

Day 349 -- Unwelcomed wake-up call

This morning at 6:30 a.m. I heard an awful crash outside the bedroom on the patio.  I jumped up and ran out there, and Bill had gone out to open the gate for the dogs and fallen over a chair on the patio.  Scared me, but he was able to get up and didn't seem to be much worse for wear.  The dogs were terrified!  He will probably be sore tonight, but then he's been hobbling around since last week so don't know for sure what's going on now.

Day 348--Fishbowl meeting

Mondays are usually a regular schedule of workout from 1-2 and choir from 7-9.  Today I had my education committee meeting in Austin at 10:00 so had to move workout to Tuesday.  Our committee had to move to a different room at TREC today and it was built for about 12 people and we had more like 20-25 in there.  Very close quarters and warm.  You would think that would encourage everyone to get the meeting done quicker, but not so.  Anyway, we survived but I sure hope we don't have to meet in that room again.  Too small--it is called the "Fishbowl" room because the wall is glass and that was another big distraction as people walked past.  Crazy day

Day 346 -- Cleaning out the Airstream

Today, I went out to the lake where we have the Airstream parked and starting getting all the stuff out of it.  We have not used it in years and have decided to sell it now that Bill is in no shape to try to do repairs and remodel it.  Mice and rats had made it their playground for the last few winters so it was somewhat gross having to go in there and start getting things out.  All the food items were already long out of it so I was getting other kitchen things, linens that were in black trash bags, decorations, etc.  I put most of it in the lake house itself where we are storing things.  I will most likely give most of the stuff to our church garage sale which is next weekend as I have proved that I can live quite nicely without anything that has been in there for years!  There are still a few odds and ends left in it that I will get out later when I start cleaning it up.  Our hope is run across an RV similar to the Watts but with 4 captain's chairs and use it for when we want to go on road trips by ourselves or with friends--not to sleep in but to make it more roomy and comfortable for riding.  We are even talking about getting Vespa's to haul with us so that we can run around in places we visit without Bill having to do a lot of walking.  So if you know anyone wanting a 32 foot Airstream 1974 vintage that really only needs some plumbing work done on it, we are in the market to sell ours.

Later in the evening we went out to eat with Avis and Harry and their son Scott and wife and Anthony, their son, joined us.  They are expecting a baby girl any minute now and she is a really petite woman so she looks like she's having twins.  But only one--Catherine Rose will be her name.  That will give Avis two grandsons and two granddaughters.  Since all mine are getting older, I'm enjoying getting to share hers a little bit since they are 3 and under.

Day 341-345 Slow days

Didn't really have any firsts on the 3rd or 4th, but on the 5th, Bill and I hosted a wine and cheese open house at there house we have for sale for $1.4 million.  It was a disappointing turnout, but the agents who did come, were very interested and had possible clients.  Hoping some activity will come from it.  Such a beautiful house and the evening was just perfect for looking at the lake.

Day 340 -- New Songs

Master Singers have two concerts this month--April 15 and April 29 (with orchestra) so what happens at practice--we get 3 new songs to learn for the concerts besides the ones that we are doing--some still a little rough.  I am learning to be on my toes with this group--never a moment to rest on your laurels!  I have tickets for sale for the April 29 concert at the CAC in Temple (Sunday 6:00) $25 each or buy 3 and get one free which makes them $18.75 each.  Money goes to pay orchestra.

Day 339 -- Easter Morning

Mom wanted so badly to attend church services today, but just didn't feel like she could.  Bill and I went to her church, and really got a great sermon from a preacher from Louisiana who was filling in today.  He was kind of a hell and brimstone old-time preacher, but it was a great day of celebrating the resurrection of our Savior.  

When Bill and I left to go home, I insisted on taking him to Sipe Springs which Avis introduced me to when I was last in Comanche with her.  I was pretty excited that I could find it--and I think Bill enjoyed the short tour of an almost extinct town.