Lots of good times

 

I'll start here with two sunrise pictures I took last week.  

We found out that Dick's brother Bob and his wife Doris, who live in northwestern Minnesota, were coming to PA.  They told us that they were planning to take Grandma Arlene to Hearth and Harrow Restaurant in Pleasant View Communities on Saturday evening and invited the brothers and wives to join them - their treat!!  We had no other plans, so on Saturday afternoon we drove the two-and-a-half hours to Manheim.  

I took this picture of the icy Susquehanna River.  That's our little Statue of Liberty!

As always, we had a GREAT time together.  Here's the guys' end of the table - Fred, Bob, Dick, Jim, and Steve.

They also included Aunt Doris Brubaker who lives at Pleasant View Communities.  She's pictured here with Bob's wife Doris and Jim's wife Carolyn.  

Across the table was Grandma Arlene, Fred's wife Deb, and me.  We were missing Steve's wife Faye.  She was signed up to be a greeter at their church's Saturday evening service and didn't feel it was fair to back out with so little notice.  I really missed her.

Of course, when Stauffers are together they must sing.  Dick's voice wasn't back yet, so he videoed with his iPad.  I was holding back a bit because I had been hoarse after choir practice on Thursday evening.  

Here are two of the songs we sang.

We drove home afterward.  Or should I say, Dick drove home afterward.  I'm telling you, if it weren't for him I would not be going all the places we go! 

On Monday evening our women's group had our monthly gathering.  This time we ate popcorn, drank hot chocolate and watched a comedian Greg Warren.  Ever hear of him?  We laughed a lot!  I'm sure none of us will ever eat peanut butter without thinking of him.

I am usually the photographer.  We were about to leave when I remembered to take a picture.

And then a selfie!

Tuesday was very special.  Dick took off work and we drove down to Lancaster County again!  This time to pick up Elizer from his daddy's house where he has been for a little over three weeks.  Destiny and Ozzy had driven from Indianapolis Monday evening and night.  They were planning to drive back Tuesday evening and night.  We were glad to have some time with Elizer before they would whisk him away!

We went to Park City Mall and had so much fun!

I love this mall so much and wish we still had a nice mall here in State College.  Ours has declined terribly in the fifteen years since we moved here.  Now they are turning a big part of it into a casino!

 

We got some burgers in the food court after we were done playing, then we drove to Destiny's mom's house in Reading.  

We hung out there for a while until it was time for them to hit the road.  Elizer thought we were coming to Indianapolis too and he wanted to go in our car.  There were tears.  Ugh.  I felt very sad the whole way home. 

I made some funny JibJab videos for him.  I don't know if he's seen them yet or not.  Destiny said they got home at 2:30 am.  Ozzy went to work today after doing all that driving!  Tomorrow (Thursday) Elizer will go back to preschool.  He hasn't seen his friends for four weeks.  Yes, Destiny's graduation was four weeks ago!  Time flies!

Last night right before I turned my phone off I got this text message from Sophie.

Yes they do!!!

I have very special plans coming right up!  Jeremy and Mike are going to be spending a long weekend in NYC visiting a friend who used to live in Portland.  I am going by bus to NYC on Friday morning and they will pick me up at Port Authority.  I'll get there mid afternoon.  In the evening we are going to see Gypsy on Broadway!  That will most certainly be a first for me!  Actually, I saw Gypsy when Jeremy was in it.  When he lived in Florida he did a lot of theatre.  

Then on Saturday afternoon I'll come back home.  I'll be there about 24 hours.  I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun!

And in case you're wondering why Dick's not going, it's because he's going to the Stauffer hunting cabin Friday night and Saturday.  Those plans with his brothers were already made a few months ago.  So we'll both be having a nice time!

I need to mention that we have finally gotten out of the deep freeze!!  Hallelujah!!!

Goodnight!

It's STILL winter

 

Last Wednesday morning I continued my tradition of reading in Hunter's classroom (as well as a few others) for the African American Read-In. When I was finished I got the teacher to take a picture of Hunter and me.  He wanted to sit on my lap, hahaha!!  He's the sweetest boy!

She also took a picture of me with his third grade class, but I won't post it in case any of their parents would not want their child's picture on the internet.   

When I came out of the school later I thought, "Wow, I gotta make sure I get into the right car!"  

That evening we had our bread baking class at church.  This time we made oatmeal bread and rolls.  It was raining and the temp was going below freezing, so we did not have as many participants as previously. 

Now that I've been taking these classes I'm thinking I'd like to try the recipe I had perfected back in the early 90's.  I was making the most beautiful, delicious loaves of bread, then we got a young sibling group of foster children, and I just got too busy to keep it up.  I never did get back to it.  

On Thursday evening we had choir practice.  I'm trying to not despair. It's hard to find people who have a good ear for harmony and can read music.  So different from my Mennonite heritage.  Of the ladies who have sung alto for me since I began directing the choir in this church, two have passed away, one is dealing with health issues, one has asthma, one is too busy with work, one just doesn't want to sing in the choir anymore.  So I pretty much have one or two altos left.  My guy who is my best tenor has left for Florida for a few months.  I know that most people in the congregation are not sitting there listening if they can hear all four harmony parts, but I am.  Hearing just soprano and bass is not ok.  Rant over!

On Friday evening we had a wonderful event at church.  A Valentines dinner for the ladies, served by the men!

Appetizers.

More appetizers.

The M&Ms were stamped with the initials of our church and of our women's group.  Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC and Women United for Christ.  The daughter of one of our church couples works for M&M and she did this for us!! 

Main course - Chicken Cordon Bleu, homemade rolls, orzo, and green beans with bacon.

Dessert - Texas sheet cake topped with ice cream and chocolate syrup.  

My table.  The lady across from me is 92 and SO much fun!  What an inspiration she is!

Of course it was also Valentines Day.  I had to smile when I saw that Dick and I each got similar cards for each other.  Maybe when you're married for 53 years it takes more pages so say everything.  Or maybe the text has to be so big that it takes up more room, hahaha!

Unfortunately, Dick did not get to help the men with the Valentines meal.  He did not have a good week. In my last post I mentioned that he had gone to urgent care last Monday morning and got drops for his pink eye.  He went to work on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but did not feel great.  Awful coughing, so much mucus, and the worst looking pinkeye we have ever seen.  So he stayed home again on Friday.  

By now his eye looks almost completely clear and he's not coughing as much, but he IS still coughing and his voice is still hoarse.   He's been going to work this week.  We are SO ready for him to feel all better!!!

Saturday was Jeremy's 45th birthday.  Such good memories.  We had a beautiful home birth in the wee hours of the morning attended by our doctor, his nurse, and my friend Elta Nissley who had been an obstetrics nurse.  We woke up Lisa and Anthony to see their baby brother when he was about an hour old.  They knew before they went to sleep that he would be born soon, but they just couldn't stay awake.  He is such a wonderful man and son.  He often calls me from Portland just to say he loves me.  But then there's usually more to talk about of course!

Next week I'll tell you the fun plans we have to see each other soon.

We had snow on Saturday and it was a good day to get caught up on some things here.  By the time we went to bed the temp was going above freezing, and we were SO GLAD.  

As I said in my last post, we had had to cancel services due to snow on February 9.  The band had been planning to come for their once a month Sunday, but thankfully it suited each of them to come on the 16th instead.  So we REALLY did not want to cancel again!!

There were not as many people present as a normal Sunday, but we still had a wonderful service. 

Later on Sunday afternoon we had a sister Zoom visit.  For two hours!!   In July we are planning to go Rose's house in Charleston for our annual sister long weekend.  So we were talking about flights and schedules and lots of other things.

Yesterday  (Tuesday) I had an appointment to get my hair trimmed.  In the evening we had our first session of a Lent Bible study - Give Up Something Bad for Lent.  It will be good.  

In the bleak midwinter....

Wow, I have a lot of catching up to do here.  

So as I said last time, we brought Elizer to Pennsylvania with us.  The day after we got home (Friday, January 31) I had a lot of catching up to do - our laundry, cooking for Anthony and Lori's family, etc.  So I told Elizer I didn't have time to play with him, he would need to play by himself.  He actually did a great job!  My house looked like a disaster by the time we left to go pick up Hunter, but that's ok.

I tried to sneak a video when I heard him at the piano.  Turns out he was quietly singing "Oh my stinky feet."  Hahahaha!

A REALLY wonderful answer to prayer took place that morning.  I have had a weight hanging over my head for weeks because I was supposed to report for jury duty on Monday morning, February 3.  I had so much anxiety about it, even though it was just here at our courthouse in Bellefonte.  Would I find a parking spot?  How far would I need to walk with my aching feet? Would I be able to go to the bathroom when necessary?  How many days or weeks might this be?  How would I keep up with the rest of my life?  

Now that our trip to Indianapolis was over, it suddenly hit me Friday morning that Monday, February 3 was just three days away.  Yikes!!!  And we were going away for the weekend!  So I called the phone number and asked the lady if there was any way I could be excused.  She wondered for what reason.  I said, "I'm 73 and I just have anxiety about the whole thing."  She wondered if I have had issues with anxiety in the past.  I said that I mostly just have anxiety about driving in unfamiliar places.  She said, "Okay, I'll excuse you, and your name will go back into the pool.  But when you're 75 you won't be required to serve anymore."  

HALLELUJAH!!!  I felt SO relieved!!!

When we picked up Hunter at school I took the boys to Get Air.  Dick came there after he got off work.   The boys had a great time, as always.

When Lori came to pick up Hunter she wanted to take a picture of Elizer.  This is what she got!

At home that evening we had to get things ready for a quick weekend getaway.  I made peanut butter rice krispie treats to take along, packed a few of Elizer's things, and a few of our things.

Saturday morning it was sunny, and Elizer thought about his bike which he had not ridden in months.  We warned him that it's really cold outside (25 degrees), but he didn't care.  

I think we hit the road for Lancaster around 11:00.  Once again Elizer was a good traveler during the 2 and 1/2 hours to his daddy and grandpa's house near Lancaster.  

I took this picture of the frozen Susquehanna River as we drove along it near Harrisburg.

After we had delivered Elizer to his daddy we went to Pleasant View Communities to visit Grandma Arlene.  Isn't she so beautiful?  93 years old - twenty years older than me.  I will be so glad if look like her in twenty years!  We had a wonderful time catching up for about an hour and a half.  

Then we went to my sister Mary Ellen's house.  She had a delicious meal ready for us.  She snapped this picture when I was unaware.  Guess I was working hard to get that little dish of cranberry relish, haha!

My sister Doris, her husband Dale, and their daughter Ellen came later.  It was SO COLD outside, Doris and Ellen didn't even want to take their coats off.  I sat down close beside her and told her we'll try to keep each other warm.  

Our plan for dessert was make-your-own sundae, of all things on such a cold evening!  I took this picture after we were finished eating. 

We slept at Mary Ellen's house and went to Manheim BIC for church on Sunday morning.  It was baby dedication Sunday, and Björn and Jess had invited us to come.  Louie was being dedicated.  There were probably six babies altogether.  We had seats right up front with Jess's family and Dick's brother Fred's family.  

After the service there was a delicious brunch served to the baby dedication families.  This little guy is SO cute and curious and friendly!!!

I had such a good time catching up with Björn as we ate together. 

Afterward we went to Björn and Jess's house to hang out for a while. Our niece Laura and her family were there too.  We had a lot of fun.  Sorry I don't have any pictures of Charlie.  He never ever sits or stands still!!  

Louie was getting sleepy.

We went back to Mary Ellen's house and took short naps and talked some more.  We decided we should have pictures before we leave.  I cracked up when I saw this picture that Dick had taken before we were ready.  

Then we drove home, getting into snow part of the way, but not too bad.  We were glad to be home again.

Nothing too exciting happened last week, just my regular cooking and music work.  On Thursday Dick came down with a cold.  He did go to choir practice that evening, but probably shouldn't have.  He really wanted to be there because the band was coming to practice for their once-a-month Sunday coming up.  

Friday morning he was worse and stayed home from work.  He had a cough and sore throat.  I had already promised Lori that we would keep Hunter that evening and overnight because Anthony was taking her to a concert.  

So Dick secluded himself to our bedroom.  We have a comfortable stuffed chair, a big TV, and private bath, so he was fine.  I kept checking in, bringing him hot tea, meds, food, etc. 

Hunter and I played Pictionary and had ice cream sundaes.  When he was ready for bed he pulled out the book "Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia" that's in the night stand in the guest room, and he wanted to read it to me.  We had so many good laughs!

On Saturday morning he wanted a bubble bath with the jets on.  I told him not to breathe when he went through our bedroom where Grandpa was.  I really did not want him to get sick!  He took a LONG bath!

  

Later Hunter and I went for groceries and Lori met us there to get her boy back.  

We started to get freezing rain that evening, and the decision was made to cancel church Sunday morning.  The second time this winter, ugh!!  But really it was ok.  Dick was not feeling any better, and he would have been so terribly disappointed to stay home when he could have been playing bass guitar with the band.  As it turns out, it suits all of them to come this coming Sunday instead.  

I stayed up and watched several episodes of Call the Midwife on Saturday evening since I would have a rare morning to sleep in.  

On Sunday I caught up on some things here at my desk.  Later I made a pot of chili.  That was our Super Bowl food with some corn bread I'd gotten on the day-old rack.  It was such a yummy combination.  

I didn't know who to root for.  I knew that I should root for the Pennsylvania team, especially since their quarterback was a Penn State grad.  My cousin Judy is a CRAZY fan of the Eagles and I joked that she would probably never talk to me again if I didn't root for them.  But I also felt loyal to Matt Nagy, one of the Chief's coaches, because he played football and basketball with our boys at Manheim Central.   

Then I noticed that my sweatshirt had some red and yellow letters, the Chief's colors.  I searched in my earring stash and came across a pair of green ones.  I decided they can show my loyalty to the Eagles.  

What a crazy game!!  The Chiefs just didn't have a chance.  

All day I was making sure Dick was taken care of.  Hot tea, water, meds, food.  I admit I am always terrified of a cough getting in the chest  because of my brother.  On top of it all, he got pink eye. 

On Monday morning he went to Urgent Care.  They gave him eye drops.  They checked him out and said his lungs were clear.  He stayed home the rest of the day. 

This morning he went to work.  He's not coughing much at all this evening.  But that eye looks so awful.  

Well, this was a really, really long post.  But now I am caught up - till next time!