Busy Expansion Day

When I came to the bookstore today, I was very interested and amazed to see so many different kinds of work being done on the expansion at once. First thing that grabbed my attention was a cement truck with it's spout pointed into a side door. Never saw anything like that before! A hole had been cut in an interior concrete block wall and new cement/concrete was needed for finishing and plugging up the sparrow nest holes. Really, I don't know what those holes are but I can tell you they're all patched today. For those who have been in our shop, the holes are in the old music department and we are looking through a new door into the card shop. Oh, the man standing in the doorway receiving the cement, is Ben Wall, our builder. He's a great builder and a fine person.

I met with a "blind lady" - what LK calls her. A woman who we are buying our blinds from. I chose faux maple two inch blinds and we will have some drapery just at the front windows which are the back of the stage. This to help the drums sound right and will make a nice backdrop for bands.

Also there was painting taking place in three totally different areas.

The supervisor, LK. Although this project is tiring, it is also invigorating. Over LK's shoulder we can see older ceiling tiles and purple paint that is going, going, soon gone.

New plank flooring was being installed in the coffeehouse dining room. It's vinyl, but it looks like barn boards and it's supposed to be tough. By days end the stage, the golden wall with three windows, was nearly carpeted. This will be a raised seating area with comfy chairs and fireplace when concerts are not on. Early this morning, LK and I scrubbed the original porcelain tiles in the dining room and set up chairs and tables. So where you see the big pile of construction stuff in the center, people are eating lunch there today.

Many details still to be addressed - like this interesting ceiling feature.

I'm so thankful for all the gifts and skills the various workers bring. It's such a great picture of what a team can do working together - reminds me of how needed all parts of the body are. The flooring installer is not more honored than the cement truck driver, who is not more needed than the painters or electrician. Each makes their contribution and each is needed - including the college student who cleans the washrooms after hours.

Steve's Birthday - my baby turned 25

January 11 my baby turned 25! He's a fine fellow, working hard at being a good husband, dreaming of tweaking his vocation. I pray God's blessing and guidance for him.

We had a fun family birthday party, despite what the first photo may imply. The expressions are so unlikely I just couldn't resist posting it. Elmer looks horribly concerned and Steve doesn't look too well himself!

Ah! Everyone is feeling better again and the party continues. Steven called in help for candle blowing and had three eager volunteers.

Then he cheered them on in candle removal and icing licking.

Oh yeah, fingers just ripped into that cake. He gets a real bang out of the little one's antics. Actually, he gets a bang out of teaching the little ones antics is more like it!

And a collage. Hopefully it will again enlarge if you click it. Lance is hamming it up with Laura. Beautiful Ricka (Ricka and Elmer are Steve's parents in law - and I would say he is a very lucky guy to have more warm, supportive, and fun parents in his life). Anna is learning to get Gracie to do tricks. She is getting her to roll over by doing her jump rope turning in the air. Aimee and Anders snuggled up. Secret second helpings of cake at the kids' table in the kitchen. And crafts. Remember the linking cousin frames that we made? Well, we only made them for houses where cousins live. Steve was pretty disappointed that he and Courtney didn't get one. So..I got some more frames and painted them in advance, loaded the pictures and glass in, installed the hooks and at the party the kids decorated them with buttons and such. Elijah and Steven worked together and had a blast gluing buttons even on top of buttons. Before the night was over, Steven already had his linking pictures of nieces and nephews hanging up in his home.

Steve and Carolyn and my parents were also at the party. That's where the bumbo shots were from.

Boys Will be Boys!

I must share with you these moments of Elijah cooking eggs in the pretend frying pan. He was just so careful and busy doing his chef work. Yes, they are raw! I am cooking over at the stove.

Then came this classic boy moment. Elijah is driving the eggs like a truck. See the lips and hear vroooom.....vroooom.... Atta boy. You drive that egg truck frying pan.

Bumbo Ad

One of the things my mom dislikes about having such severe arthritis is not being strong enough to hold the little ones. Sometimes she will say, "I wish I could touch him", or "Can I give him a kiss?" and we will have to help. This solution, by Lance, provided a really animated and extended time of fun - for many. I present Anders and Great Grandma.

Take one of those goofy but useful as advertised on TV tables. You know the one - you buy one and it has like 50 positions. Add a bumbo with a baby and presto - good times. (Spell check wants me to change bumbo to bimbo.)

I'm off to look at more colors at the bookstore and to enjoy yet another day of sunshine.

Remember to click for a close look.

Baby Sitting Gracie

Gracie's "parents" are away and we are taking care of Gracie. I took this picture of her this morning. She was chasing a Frisbee. I panned the camera to the speed of her running and that's why she's pretty clear and the background is blurry. I like the shot. She's a strong dog and she loves to play.

The shot below shows her soft brown eyes. Eva said once that Gracie's eyes are black. Maybe she meant the pupils. Aimee, show Eva Gracie's brown eyes and ask her what color they are, please.

I'm taking my tree down today. It is still very fresh and it's been up for 5 weeks. Next year I'm going to put it up earlier. We got a grand fir and apparently they last a long time - I'd say. Also we have an enormous watering stand for it. In the beginning it was drinking two full tea kettles a day.

Speaking of Christmas - this reminds me of a funny memory about snow. When I was a kid I played clarinet. I know - how is this related to snow? You'll see. My dad taught me to play clarinet. He also taught Cara and Steven. Well, my dad's clarinet case was light and compact. My case was way oversize for a clarinet. My goodness, I could fit music books in it. I didn't like carrying it at all and secretly wished for a new case. In the winter, though, it did serve a purpose. As I left my junior high to walk home, I would almost immediately come to a big sledding hill. I would put my case on the snow, sit on it and use it for a sled. Reaching the bottom I would pick it up and walk the rest of the way home. This was a good use for the case I felt, but I did have some guilt that it was not respectful of the instrument and I hoped my dad wouldn't find out. I still love the clarinet, although I did not continue to play it. My band teachers were so out of touch and uninspiring that I lost interest. Too bad.

Picnic

My kind of girl! I headed out to Aimee's this week and we had a picnic as soon as I arrived. Now my neighborhood is looking much more springlike than hers. I got such a bang out of our early front yard picnic with snowbanks in the background.

These are the things that memories are made of!

Morning Play

This morning Anna called me on the phone. Well, her dad called but she wanted to talk to me. In fact, not just talk, but come over to play. After a quick bowl of cheerios, that Steve S. said she was too excited to eat really, her dad brought her over.

Anna's language is just exploding and she is becoming quite the conversationalist. We played with dishes and toy food. We took care of babies, one of which was crying, Jane. I asked Anna what would help and she said "Tylenol". We gave extra attention to that little one. Anna tried to decide what would help dolly Jane's tummy. After some thought she decided that milk would be best. Anna knows a lot about babies because she has a new baby sister, Laura. Some of my new dishes got a play. I bought some from Green Toys made from recycled milk cartons. Check them out on line if you like. They are even approved by the FDA for eating and drinking from. The teapot is sweet and pours really well. No tea today though.

And we built. We built right away for awhile and then read "A Snowy Day", played dishes, and had a real lunch. Anna then said, "Come on, lets build some more Lego together!" I love that, "Come on".

You are seeing part of my Duplo collection which I mostly collected on e-bay. There are so many fun pieces now. I have cars and trucks, building pieces, farm pieces, and quite a few house and people pieces, along with regular blocks. Four tubs neatly labeled and tucked onto a kitchen shelf. Great investment.

Anna worked really hard with all her muscles to place some blocks. She does not realize yet that it's position and not just muscle that makes them stick! Sometimes things got really precarious and down a tall tower would crash. This would throw her into fall-over-on-the- floor fits of giggles. Infectious.

That's Jane getting the extra attention. Remember, Tylenol Jane?

Our super big creation. We have a park, a living room, another house - mostly bedrooms, and a lake and field with animals. The building mats are really important and this is one thing our kids didn't have. Also, check out those big ready built walls with the brown sliding doors. Ya - I'm into this.

Social notes.

We spent a wonderful New Year's Eve night with two cousins of LK's at their new condo. I so enjoyed the hospitality, conversation, beauty and food. The food just kept coming and I declared their fridge to be magic. Good thing mine is not magic. I needn't say more.

Lance and Aimee had us out for dinner to their place. Christmas table cloth, Chinese food, Cute kids peering out the window, Christmas tree lights behind them and snowy wonderland outside. Their neighborhood was WILD as far as lack of snow removal and snow banks everywhere. We packed a bag in case driving got worse, but after playing a new game, Ticket to Ride, we were able to drive home just fine. I felt especially cared for and spoiled this night. Thanks guys, I didn't know it, but maybe I needed that.

I'm happy to say that our care group is getting going again after a rambling start and a break over Christmas.

New blog plans.

I'm such a free spirit I'm half afraid to mention this out loud but I'm thinking of starting a memory post - just random memories from my life. I may call it M is for Memories or Memories on Monday. What do you think?

What did you get for Christmas? Steve S. asked me this as he was leaving. Thinking concretely I began to talk of gifts received and gifts not opened yet as my brother has postponed his Christmas visit to February. He asked me again, but what did I get. Hello....tangible but not available in stores - bestest gift ever - a new granddaughter - Laura - who Carolyn was laboring for during our family Boxing Day gathering. Thanks guys. GREAT present :)

Christmas Eve - Mostly

I'm still soaking up Christmas here in our snow flaked wonderland. The rush has quieted down, the snow making it sound more quiet still, and I've been enjoying days of nothing busy. Days of Christmas beauty in my living room and days of quiet in my heart. Last night, LK and I went to a special Christmas Eve/Epiphany service at a local Anglican church. I smiled throughout. It was rich in content, music, and symbolism. One of my favorite images, was a large manger scene placed under the open altar/table. Someone had painted a night background with a tasteful star and palm tree silhouettes. The wise men were in their places. As part of the service, there was a processional where three adults came down the center isle bearing symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. This, an act usually reserved for children, but how humble it struck me, for an adult to play this oven childlike role. In the original, of course, it was wise men.

Some Christmas memories for you. Below is Elijah tasting O'ma's pluma mouse for the first time. In my Norwegian heritage we make something very similar called sweet soup (sot suppe). Elijah could hardly wait for the next spoonful. My sentiments exactly - only there was no camera pointed at my two bowls full.

Oh yes, this is Christmas Eve at LK's parents. We've had to move downstairs because our group is so big. This year even the buffet table moved to an adjoining room. First we have dinner, meatballs, farmer sausage, famous potato salad, cheese, plumamouse, fruit, dips and homemade buns - every year. Yumm. Tradition. Then, we move some tables out of the way and make a giant circle with our chairs. We sing carols, this year Aimee told the Christmas story for children who gathered in close. The Christmas story was read and there was a prayer. During the singing there was much dancing and I will post a jerky video just because it is so cute.

You can see the still shot of children dancing. Unfortunately there were many fires before dinner. Good thing there were many children with fire hats and other invisible equipment who effectively put those fires out under the direction of Captain Cara. See Eva going back for more jello from the serving table? Why get a plate?!

Getting reading and trying to take a picture of all the great grandchildren. Erin's boys on the far right must have been practicing beforehand as they stayed in position throughout the whole photo shoot experience. Someone on O'ma's knee was not happy even of the idea of photos.

Here's the video.

And a little more.

May God bless you in this new year and guide us all with his tender compassion.