Last week of September - a good one

 Time for my weekly update here.  

Last Monday evening our women's group at church had a mountain pie party!  It was raining off and on throughout the day, and we were forewarned that we may have to take our party indoors.  BUT the rain stopped sometime in the afternoon, and it was an absolutely lovely, warm evening.  

Lori was in Harrisburg, and Anthony had a meeting to attend that evening, so they asked if Hunter could stay with me that evening.  I said he could if he didn't mind going with me to a women's party.  He did not mind at all, and they enjoyed having him there. We all had a lot of fun.

I had a lot of music to work on last week, practicing the piano accompaniment for our Christmas musical, getting arrangements made for the band for Sunday morning, etc.  We had band practice on Wednesday evening and choir practice on Thursday evening. 

And of course I made dinner for Anthony and Lori's family on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as usual, picking up the boys from their after-school things on those days.  

On Thursday, before we went to choir practice I made a dinner for Dick and me that we LOVE!  Fried eggplant sandwiches.  For some reason I make them just once a year - probably because I grew up eating things like that only when they were in season.  

On Saturday I got caught up on paperwork at the desk.  I also planned the music for the first Sunday in October.  AND I cleaned the whole house.  Dick had finished all the mowing here and at Anthony's, then he watched the Penn State football game (SAD ending!!)  

I felt all caught up when I went to bed that night.  AND there was a gorgeous sunset!  We have not seen one of those in a while.

We've been having summer weather, and I have loved it so much.  So have my flowers!

Sunday morning was really special.  I love the one Sunday per month that the band is there.  Here's a video of the prelude, "O Lord, Hear My Prayer."  Melanie and I sang, and Brenna accompanied with her flute. 

Dick (bass), Ross (guitar), and Phil (drums) played with all the other songs. And of course Brenna on flute.  Melanie sang this time instead of playing cello because she had hand surgery last week.

After church I told Dick that I wanted to go somewhere and see people!  So we went to Manheim, picking Sammy and Bianca up along the way.  They had just finished up Sammy's birthday party at his other grandma's house.  His 14th birthday had been on Friday.  

We went to Pleasant View Communities to see Grandma Arlene.  We had such a wonderful time with her.

She hadn't seen the kids in over a year and couldn't believe how big they're getting.  

Then we went to Bjorn and Jess's place for a while.  Those darling boys!!!! 

We had a great time playing with them and catching up with Bjorn and Jess.

Louie (1) and Charlie (3).

On the way back to Duncannon we stopped at a Hardees to get some food.  I forgot to take any pictures there.  When I realized it afterward I said to the kids, "How will I remember we ate there?? Pictures are the only way I remember things!"  So they began to list the things we can remember about it.  1. Bianca had the sloppiest, most falling apart burger EVER!   2. I had my first Frisco, recommended by Sammy.  It was YUM!  3. An elderly man who had been eating with loved ones and having a good time, fell when he got up from his seat.  It caused quite a scare.  He did not appear to have gotten hurt, but they insisted he not try to get up too quickly.  We heard someone ask him how old he is, and he said, "97."  He was absolutely serious.  We were amazed!!

As we headed toward Duncannon we watched the beautiful sunset over the Susquehanna River.

I think we were home by 9 pm.  It had been a good day.

This afternoon as I was making Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup, the aroma was being combined with the smell of hot oil.  Our driveway was being resealed.  

We'll need to park in the grass till Wednesday, but it's nice to have it done.  It had been three years. 

 

The summer weather has continued!  I just love it.  I am kind of eager to start decorating with pumpkins and mums, but ....

There are two anniversaries this week.  On Wednesday it will be 54 years since our wedding! 

 

And on Sunday it will be 20 years since my first blog post!  I've been here on Blogger the entire time, and the title of my blog has been "What's Up at the Stauffers?" the whole time too.   It has been a diary of my life and of our family.  I'm trying to figure out how to celebrate, haha!

Middle of September

This is Monday morning, and I woke up at 3:00 feeling like I was finished sleeping.  No idea why I do that sometimes.  Anyway, I decided to make good use of the time by catching up here.  

First things first!  This rose bush!  I got it at Walmart halfway through the summer, a clearance item.  For a while I wasn't sure it would do anything, but now it apparently loves all the dry weather we've been having.  I love it!!

Going back to last Sunday, September 14.  We had such an inspirational worship service in which the youth took part.  

Reading scripture verses - 

 

A skit - my friend Connie and her grandson.

Helping to serve Communion.  By the way - the woman in the green shirt is 93, our oldest member I believe.  She's there every Sunday, still lives in her own home!

Sunday was also Destiny's 25th birthday.  I was so glad to get pictures from her.  They had a good weekend celebrating her. 

I just love when she sends me videos of Elizer having fun.  

A bit of silliness here!  When we got home from church that day I said, "Dick, you need to take a picture of me.  I don't think I've ever coordinated so well from head to toe!"  

We have had very dry, very warm weather this past week, and I love it!  But we had enough of a cold snap the week prior to that, so we're seeing signs of Fall.  We're to get some rain each day this week.

I cooked for Anthony and Lori's family on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as usual, and picked the boys up from school on my way to taking the food to their place.  Hunter stays for an after-school program, and Austin stays to work out at the gym, so I pick them up around 5:30.  Hunter always asks if he can come to my house.  

Finally on Friday it worked out.  We played UNO and then had fun with this wooden puzzle that I always keep on my coffee table.  I always thought there is just one way that all the pieces fit together.  But Hunter figured out two different ways to fit them together.  Of course he did, haha!

Meanwhile throughout the evening Dick was communicating with Frank who was setting up the popup camper at his church's camping weekend.  But he got'er done!  He sent Dick this picture.  It made us and Anthony and Lori happy to see it.

Here are a few pictures from our church's work project on Saturday.  Last year one of our men had a vision for providing firewood for people who need it to heat their homes.  It was a slow, small start.  But word got out, and so far the program "Wood for Good" has received two grants for equipment.  And on Saturday they had the help of a tree service whose owner is the grandson of one of our members.  

Saturday was Anthony's 49th birthday.  In the evening we went over to their place for a cookout and birthday cake.  The weather was PERFECT, and we had such a nice time.  Lori's mother, who lives in their apartment over the garage, joined us too.  She and I enjoyed reminiscing about having babies.  She had six children.  Lori is second to youngest. 

Anthony conducted our birthday song, haha!!  And in the background you can see Hunter taking a silly video with his iPad.  By the end of the song we didn't sound too bad! 

Our Sunday was pretty low key.  After church and lunch I took a short nap then worked the rest of the day on music for next Sunday.  Dick spent some time at his hunting shack in Anthony's woods.  I think he was over there three evenings last week and also on Saturday.  He's getting it all ready for the season.  Archery starts soon! 

After I was in bed last evening I got a text message from Austin - "Grandma, do you know this song?"

 

I told him that I really couldn't recognize it from those few notes.  Did he know any other part of it?

After a while he sent me another video with his solution to the matter, haha!  His posture while playing makes me crazy, but apparently it doesn't bother him!

The news from Portland is that Brennan can now ride a two-wheeler without training wheels!

I just can't keep up with all our family.  It's been over a month since Sammy and Bianca were here after our camping weekend.  It feels like AGES!  This week Jenn posted this beautiful picture.  I don't know what the occasion was, but those kids are growing up TOO FAST!!

And it IS ages since we've seen Bjorn and his precious family - I think it was in June.  I'm so thankful that Jess posts lots of pictures, so I at least get to see these sweet faces a lot!

And now I'm all caught up here and ready to start another week!  I hope yours is good!

Back at home, starting Fall routines

Saturday evening already!  We've been home from our trip a whole week already.

Last Saturday was a slow day for us.  But I did make sure to check on my flowers.  I did a lot of dead heading and cleaning up.  But they didn't fare to badly while we were away.

On Sunday at church we had a special welcome back party for the kids.  There were no Sunday School classes in the month of August.  It was held outdoors.  Here are a few pictures one of my friends took.  I think one of the things they did was a scavenger hunt.

I got right back to cooking on Monday and picking up Hunter and Austin after school. 

On Wednesday evening we had our monthly baking class at church.  This time we learned how to make English muffins.  Here's Chef Curt.

 

We had a lot of fun, as usual.

We each made a batch of dough to take home with us.  We were supposed to keep it covered in the fridge overnight.

We learned that the best way to "bake" them was in a cast iron skillet on top of the stove.  So that's what I did on Thursday morning. 

I just needed an avocado with my muffin.  I still have some left, and I have gotten some avocados - which need to ripen, of course!

On Thursday evening we had our first choir practice of the fall season.  After our regular practice at 6:30 we then listened/sang along with our new Christmas musical.  We have people who join us for just that.  Everyone really liked the musical. I was happy to have a couple of men who will sing with us for the first time.

More flower pictures!  Sorry if they get repetitious.

We have decided we are too old and tired to bother with the pop-up camper anymore.  As you remember from our camping weekend, we slept in a cabin.  Frank was interested in the pop-up, because his church is going camping next weekend.  So today he came for it.  Dick showed him how to set it up, etc.  I gave it a good vacuuming.  Then they put it down, and he took it home to Reading.  He texted around 8:00 pm that he was home.  

I made more molasses ginger snaps today!  I had made some on Monday for Anthony and Lori's family.  Yesterday when I picked up Austin from school he asked if I had made more.  I said, "No, do you want me to?"  He said, "Yes, they're my favorite kind!"  How can I resist?  We'll deliver them tomorrow afternoon.

And now I really need to go to bed.  On Sunday mornings I need to have clear mind and soul for all the music.