Nichole’s Summer Journal, 6/19/2009

It is the last day of Spring.  It is 8:19 p.m.–and is still light outdoors.  I hear a lawn mower going.

We took Tickie, ( our dog) to get groomed this morning.  When we got back from that errand, I sat down and filled out some paper work for my health insurance.

It was a cleaning day today.  Although I keep things pretty orderly –I’m not good at wet mopping my hard wood floors on a regular basis.  Vera used to sweep them for me but she is gone.  Two weeks ago, Jim and I swept and mopped for our “House Blessing” by our new priest.  I decided then that a two week schedule would be a  good goal to strive for.

So Jim swept the floors and I mopped again.  I dusted the furniture and took a small paint brush to dust pictures.  I polished my piano as the last chore.  This will probably help my allergies.  I suffered terribly last year but then I didn’t wet mop very often.  So this is my experiment. 

I was going to work on my music this afternoon but alas more paperwork awaited me.  Even though Jim is in the veteran’s health care program –his charges have been based on tax year 2008.  We had been getting some hefty bills so I called and asked if they had a “hardship” program.  They sent me some papers.  It took me two hours to fill them out plus I had to write an essay about our situation.

We took our papers to the post office and had a copy made before we mailed them.  We also picked up “Tickie” from the groomers.  We don’t have her groomed very often.  It had been 3 whole months.  But she is a long haired dog and all of our attempts to cut her hair at home have been disasters.  She looked so great.  I know she feels better.  I feel better just looking at how clean and neat she is.

Jim and I had a simple meal of lima beans, rice, lettuce, tomatoes and cornchips.  We then watched an old Cary Grant, Rosalind Russel movie, His Girl Friday.  It was just too hyper for me.   All of the characters talked too fast and the scenes were just so jabbled ( a new word I invented). 

Well, I’m glad the cleaning is done for two more weeks.  It was nice to have a day off from taking care of our grandsons.

Nichole’s Summer Journal, 6/18/2009

The grandsons brought their bikes with them today.  I got plenty of exercise race walking to keep up with them. ( I don’t allow them to venture out on their own)

We spent an hour visiting our elderly neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. C. The boys like to follow Mr. C around.  At age 86, he is still working on his truck and car.  His truck is 25 years old.  It was a gift to him –brand new–when he retired as a trucker.  It continually breaks down.  Mr. C has a huge water tank in the back of his truck.  He takes it down to the water treatment plant and fills it up  to water his 300 tomato plants. 

It drives Mrs. C crazy that Mr. C is still trying to manage so many tomato plants.  “Next summer, I won’t allow it.  This is the last summer for this foolishness.  I’m the one who has to worry when he the truck breaks now.” 

Mrs. C. broke a hip in spring of 2008.  She hasn’t gotten back to driving until….this summer. Mr. C.  has called her a couple of times needing to be rescued.  This couple does not have a cell phone.  Mr. C. has to walk to find a phone in order to contact Mrs. C.  This worries her to know end.  I told her that she should call me.  I’m home most of the time this summer.  I would be glad to rescue Mr. C. 

After we got home from the C’s. –Jim went to help serve lunch at The Salvation Army.  He enjoys doing this each week.  We haven’t had to buy or bake bread since he started volunteering.  The table is always full of donated bread.  It is good quality bread–most of it pound and a half loaves that are whole wheat and not made with fructose or bad cooking oils.  Jim usually gets enough to share with others.

Maria came to town for her weekly trip to the nursing home to visit her friend who had a serious accident when she was a young woman.  She is in her late 40’s and has been in the nursing home since she was 18 years old.  John likes to go with Maria to visit  Debbie.  When they got home, I noticed he had a orange soda and some chips.  The recreation leader gave them to him.  Naturally, little brother was a little jealous.

That afternoon we also took Mary, my friend, on an errand.  Then she treated us to an ice cream at McDonalds.  We went back to the home where she is staying and the boys played with water guns in her back yard while we sat on the patio and visited.

In the heat of the late afternoon, the boys wanted to ride their bikes again.  So I got another racewalk in.  At last, Sandy, their mother came.  I didn’t have to cook as Maria had brought me some of her leftovers to heat up.

After supper I went to water T’s flowers.  It is now 8:10 p.m. I’m very tired!

Nichole’s Summer Journal, 6/16/2009

I had told grandsons, John and Alex that we would water T’s flowers. ( T is out of town for two weeks)  Suddenly, there was a large downpour of rain.  The same thing happened yesterday. 

Next, on the agenda was my getting ready to go to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned.  The boys wanted to go with me but I told them that would not work.  They then wanted to change things around upstairs in Vera’s room.  ( Vera is now living in Kansas City, Mo)  I told them that would have to wait until I got home from the dentist.  They had orders to obey their Grandpa while I was gone.

I had my usual six month cleaning.  My dentist always comes in afterwards and looks at my teeth.  He always tells me what a good girl I am for taking such good care of my teeth.  This time he told me that I was to have some xrays.  I thought.  ” Oh no–this is not going to be good news.  I didn’t get my usual compliment.”  I was right.  The news wasn’t good.  I had a cavity –my first one since 1993.  I know the culprit behind my cavity.  I ate too much hard candy while I was sub teaching.  It was a bad habit I developed.  I kept my pocket book full of candy.  Then when I went to pick up the boys at their school each afternoon after work–I would suck on 2 or 3 more pieces.  Even though I brush my teeth before bed—I know the candy was my enemy.

When I got home– I broke the bad news to Jim and the boys.  The boys just laughed at me.  We had plans to drive to Gracy , Ky to have a snack lunch with Maria.  Maria was working  as a postmaster relief person and asked us to visit her on her lunch break.  We then drove a little down the road to the Dairy Creme.  This is a ice cream shop that is managed by a retired couple.  The shop used to belong to the husband’s parents.  We enjoyed generous ice cream cones for .50 and no tax. 

After our lunch and ice cream–we drove the few miles to Cerulean, Ky where Maria lives.  We shopped at the Mennonite vegtable and fruit stand.  They also sell honey, jams, pickles etc.  I bought some tomatoes, cherry preserves and a jar of 4 bean salad. 

When we arrived home, the boys wanted to play upstairs in Vera’s room.  Alex let me read him some books.  We finished the day with their playing with their small toys on the kitchen table.  I was able to sit at the table with them and read a book.   Soon their mom, Sandy, arrived to take them home.

The ride in the country and the .50 ice cream cone was my favorite part of the day.