Tuesday, I made the pies--all 16 of 'em. We gave three away--and ate all the rest ourselves. Hoink. (Well, we didn’t eat it all in one day, at least.)
Monday was Larry’s first full day on his new job. He drove the mulcher on the golf course most of the day, clearing off leaves. It was windy, and sometimes all those crunched-up leaves blew in his face and got in his eyes, even though he put on safety glasses. Nevertheless, he did enjoy the work. One day he removed the bucket off of a loader, surprising his bosses with the rapidity with which he did the job.
Caleb stayed home from school nearly all week because he acquired a cold, which caused him to have a bad asthma attack. Tuesday he was nauseated and had a 100.1o temperature. He finally went to school Thursday afternoon, but that evening he felt bad again and couldn’t go to school Friday. But he managed to go to both church services Sunday, and he went to school today. At noon he said his stomach hurt, but a couple of spoonfuls of Peptobismal must’ve fixed him right up, because before I knew it, he’d headed out the door and was last seen trotting into the school door.
Dorcas has made a half dozen more large wreaths, covering one side with flowers, sometimes adding butterflies made of feather, or perhaps loops of pearls, and putting big ribbon bows at the bottom of the flowers. Hannah burnt her finger rather badly on glue from the hot glue gun, making the bows for Dorcas. The wreaths are turning out really pretty. She is planning to take them to a craft show that will be held in a couple of weeks.
The cat is still conducting a Keep-the-Dog-in-Subjection campaign, and just a couple of days ago, she whacked the dog again. I managed to swat her big black plume of a tail just before she fled; then I went after her and tapped her on the head with one finger while I told her, “BAD!” She squinted and turned her head away haughtily.
My Mozart32 program is sure coming in handy; Tuesday I used it to write alto and tenor parts for To God Be the Glory for the trumpet players. Maybe, if I use it enough, it will be worth what I paid for it -- $80. Eighty dollars--for two floppy disks. And an instruction book. Which I haven’t ever read.
I decided Hester’s dress wasn’t quite done after all, and added a big bow onto the back and a bow onto each sleeve, giving it a more festive air. I’ve started on Lydia’s now, but interrupted that with a new project: I began typing up all the old articles and reports concern-ng our church, from the late 50s to the late 60s. I am typing from an old scrapbook belonging to my friend, Lynita Gehring.
Some of those old stories are appalling, as much now as then. Yes, religious persecution and prejudice is alive and well, here in the good ol’ USA, never believe otherwise. But God proved to us that the following verse is true: “We are more than conquerors, through Him who loved us.”
I have typed 38 pages so far, and am more than half done.
Tuesday evening I practiced with our orchestra and band. They are sounding better and better every week; I think we will have a beautiful series of medleys ready for Thanksgiving.
Joseph has been raking leaves for our neighbor, Mary Foreman, who pays him to do the job. It’s funny to watch him out the window; he goes at it like he’s fighting snakes. Mary is impressed with his industry.
Hester had a Jr. Fire Patrol meeting Tuesday, and Joseph went along, to protect her, as he said. I was glad enough to let him. And Hester was glad enough to have him. It’s true; he would protect her; but I think he just plain enjoys those meetings. The fireman discharged a humungous fire extinguisher, first telling everyone to be quiet and listen to the little noise it would make. As soon as they were quiet, ker-BLOOEY!--he released it. The kids jumped out of their hides. And Joseph, who knew what was going to happen, laughed his head off.
“I warned Hester what he was going to do,” he told us, still laughing, “and she still jumped into the rafters!”
Larry is now the same age as me--39. I filled up a great big box for him--all full of socks and other like items. This, because he can never seem to find any; his sons probably have extras in their rooms. Well, now we won’t have to wash clothes for a coon’s age, and he’ll still be rolling in socks. We also tucked into the box a silver and chrome pen and pencil set, for which Hester paid half; and a couple of knives from Dorcas. Teddy gave Larry a gold pocket watch with an engraved picture of a man hunting in the mountains. Joseph gave him sausage and crackers…a big hit, of course.
Lawrence and Norma, and Keith and Esther, and Bobby, too, came visiting that night after church. Norma brought Missississississississippippippippippi (I never know when to stop) mud cake. Norma was all worried because the frosting was runny. Bobby and Hannah went to the store for ice cream, and we had pumpkin pie, too.
Noting that Caleb had gone off and left his plate with not only cake, but also ice cream on it, I said, “Caleb, are you done eating?”
“No,” he answered, shaking his head, “I’m just full.”
Lawrence and Norma gave Larry a couple pairs of jeans and socks, and my mother gave him some money--and her manual 35mm camera, a very good camera. So we all were occupied with saying cheese that night.
Do you remember the family I told you about, perhaps a year ago, whose little girl, Mary Clarice, who had surgery on her back? Her spine was terribly crooked, and getting worse all the time. Well, she began getting worse again a couple of months ago, and her older brother Timothy was developing the same problem, as they had known he would. This time, the doctors (in Wisconsin) performed the more radical procedure of inserting a metal rod into the children’s backs. The operations were done last Monday, and the children have improved more quickly than expected. Timothy and Mary were out of intensive care within a day, and they were discharged from the hospital yesterday; they will probably be home later tonight. We are all ever so thankful.
Caleb and Victoria are playing hide-and-seek. Victoria announces (while Caleb is still in the room), “I’m going to hide right here!”--and she points at the spot she has chosen. Then, as soon as Caleb, from his corner, calls, “Are you ready?” she cries excitedly, “Yes! HERE I ARE!”
They trade places. Soon, Victoria is calling, “WHERE ARE YOU?!” and Caleb yells back, totally giving away his hiding place, “I CAN’T TELL YOU!”
Previously, they were playing “Going Visiting”, which entails greeting a different person each time they enter a different room. Down the hallway they came, then, hand in hand, and into my bedroom. Then, with glad surprise, Victoria cried, “Why, Melody! I’m so happy to see you!” And on it goes.
Kitty found a huge, fat mouse in Lura Kay’s lawn. Hannah was telling us about it (she removed it from Kitty’s grasp, and Kitty was still complaining about it when Hannah brought her back inside), and she asked me, “What kind of a mouse do you think it was? It was huge!”
Caleb responded, “It was probably a Daddy mouse!”
“Maybe,” replied Hannah agreeably, then continued, “It was so fat, it could hardly move!”
Caleb’s eyebrows rose even higher. “It was probably a GRANDDADDY mouse!!”
Friday Larry went with another man in a rowboat out on the golf course lagoon to measure the depth and circumference. They are planning to put a retaining wall around the lake--a $96,000 job (!)--because the waves from the fountain were washing the sides down into the water…and it must be kept a certain depth in order for the fountain to work. The other man took the job of rowing, leaving Larry with the job of Joy-Riding.
But a rower, the other man was not. And the fountain really makes the water roil around it. Larry, feeling a tad insecure, recommended they steer clear of the spring. And so they did.
Sunday morning Kay and Evelyn sang Over in Gloryland, a lively song, with a double melody, of which I am particularly fond. That evening, at our Baptismal Service, the Jr. Choir sang We Worship Thee, and I sang The Theme of God’s Love. Would you believe, somebody forgot to turn my amplifier on again?! But this time it was even worse: they also forgot to put my mike on the piano for me! So there I was, once more sneaking off during the first prayer to collect my remote, and during the offering I was busily wedging the holder of my mike between the keyboard lid and the base of the song rack. Good grief.
Oh, well; at least the amplifier stayed on, and everything worked fine and dandy in the end. I prefer playing for myself, as opposed to standing at the pulpit, in the middle of a large, barren platform, while somebody miles away plays the piano and organ for me. I feel much more secure, back there behind the piano, playing while I sing, knowing exactly when I’m going to hit the next note, knowing that voice and piano will be in fine synchronization. Well, uh, that is, I think, I hope, they will be.
Bobby and Hannah, and Keith and Esther came for dinner yesterday. We had ham, a vegetable blend of some sort, lettuce/tomato salad, orange jello with mandarins, biscuits, and Dairy State Apple Pie with ice cream. Yummy! That’s our favorite apple pie recipe.
Kitty is sick again; she has a severe case of tapeworm. AAAaiiiiieeeee. The veterinarian gave us the medicine she needs, and we certainly hope that will take care of it.
Guess what?! I am having another poem published! This one is entitled An Exaltation to the Creator:
An Exaltation to the Creator
A star lies upon the seaside,
Carried thither by the tide;
Foamy waters wax and wane;
No one can their course restrain.
Horizon borders azure sky;
Fleecy clouds drift on breezes high;
Turquoise waves caress the isle,
Warmed by sunlight’s golden smile.
List to the song the zephyrs bring--
The leaves are rustling--the needles sing!
Ocean and trees in harmony sweet
Worship their Maker in anthem complete.
May we, as nature, exalt Thee with praise;
Let us be joyful, all of our days;
’Til someday in heaven we gaze on that shore,
Where sorrows are ended--forevermore!
And now I will finish typing those articles.
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