MORE unpacking, organizing and purging... at Church.

This week I am trying to get a lot more done at work (Church), unpacking more boxes, getting things organized, and still purging a lot of things we had kept in the storage pods... who knows why we kept some of this stuff? *L*

I had a really productive day!! Since Fr. Bill is still on sabbatical, and Deb (the church secretary) is on vacation this week, I have the office to myself, and was lucky the phone didn't ring much while I finished setting up and unpacking the last of the Sunday School rooms! HURRAH!! It's looking pretty good, all that is left to do is hang a bulletin board and some of our pictures, bring in the TV and stand, and maybe move in the large 7 ft. pew in the hallway...if it can fit thru the door that is?





Here are before and after photos... almost two months ago, when we first moved back to our building, after a year away, this room was more like a giant storage room, even the Sunday School kids got lost in it. *L*





But now it looks great and is ready for our next Sunday School class to enjoy too!





And even the new closet area that was built is organized and still room to walk thru to get the things we might need in those storage bins for the different events and seasons of the church year...yay!!



It's nice to have a place for all our costumes too ... sooo, tomorrow it's on to another room....

Gardening & Grilling Weekend

It was a busy weekend ... Saturday I FINALLY went out and did some much needed weeding and gardening (started at 7 a.m. to try to avoid the heat), I also planted a few planters and bought some hanging baskets and more plants to fill in where some of my perenials were killed off over the winter.





There is still a lot to do, but on Sunday, after church, and staying to work there about 3 hrs, it was too hot when I got home to continue the gardening (92 degrees!!). I decided it was a stay inside day, watching movies with John, and later a fast trip to the grocery store to get things that John grilled along with some delicious chicken I had marinated. John made some yummy taters, califlower and broccoli with onions on the grill too... yummmmm!!

It was a nice weekend, I was happy to get some work done around home for a change, and enjoy time with the family too!



I could get used to John cooking dinner more often as well!! *G*

Happy Birthday Grandson Josh!!

Josh is SEVEN already!! Can't believe how fast the grandsons all grow up. We were invited over to John and Janel's for dinner, to celebrate Josh's birthday which is tomorrow, but also celebrate Jake and Jeff's birthdays which were in the last few weeks too! John fixed DEEEEELICIOUS pork steaks on the grill, with potatoes and onions. We brought an icecream birthday cake from Dairy Queen, and a nice dinner birthday party was had by all. Josh is interestest in art, and so, I found some cool art supplies and things for him to continue to make great art...something we both like and share.

We sang happy birthday to all three boys, but forgot the candles for the cake... ahhh well, it still tasted just as good!

Happy Birthday tomorrow Josh!!! And happy birthday to all three grandsons (((Jake, Josh & Jeff))) We love you!! xoxoxo. Thanks John and Janel for the fun dinner too!

Allyn Grave Site

Part of my "job" is taking care of the stipulation of the will of a deceased parishioner, who has left Christ Church as a beneficiary of part of their trust. A floral arrangement is to be placed on the Allyn family grave site each year for Memorial Day. We are all very thankful for the Allyn family and all the many ways they have blessed the Church that I work at and we are members of. A prayer of thanks was also offered as I planted the flowers this afternoon.



The cemetery was busy with a lot of visitors and families putting flowers on the graves, in preparation of the Memorial Day celebration and ceremony that is held each year at Spring Grove Cemetery.

I am hoping that maybe I'll get a chance to plant some of my own planters this weekend... we'll see.

Squirrely Squirrels

We have some whacky acting squirrels around the house lately ... I think that "love" is in the air or something.. *lol* The squirrels are all running around acting crazy... here is one that likes to hang around our deck in the grapevines growing in the tree next to the deck...cute little things, aren't they? *S*

Pods - Now You See Them, Now You DON'T!!

Whooopppeeee!! After more than a year of these huge red storage pods on the front lawn of the Church, they are now history!

This was the view that people had to look at as they drove past for the last 13 months! UGGGHHH...

The storage pods DID come in handy for sure...storing tons of stuff we didn't have room for in other places as the renovations took place inside.




We've been working to unload all the stuff inside for over a month now, and finally yesterday, I finished cleaning up the last of the junk! Just call me Ms Clean Sweep!! *ha*... of course, now some of it is inside the church narthex (the new part) and how long it will have to stay there before we find a place for the stuff is anyone's guess....but, at least the pods are empty!

... and as of today...they are GONE!! YAY!!



All that is left is to seed the dead grass areas and mow the lawn that is left there ... (oh, btw, see that huge piece of plywood leaning against the flagpole ... anyone care to move it for me, it's waaaay too heavy! ... hoping for a magic plywood moving fairy to come overnight...*lol*)

One more project to check off the list of things to get back to normal around here...

.......but, have things EVER been normal??? *lol*

Happy Birthday to Grandson Jeff !!

Actually, yesterday was our youngest grandson's 5th birthday!! I can't believe it's been 5 years already since this loving grandson came into all our lives.

Since today is Grandson Friday, I waited till today to celebrate and give Jeff his gifts from us. Unfortunately, Jeff wasn't feeling so good ... after picking him up from school just before noon, I asked him where he wanted to get lunch from. We were going to have to go back to Church to work for a couple of hours before going to our house. He didn't want a thing to eat, which is very unusual for Jeff!




After stopping a couple of rummage sales on the way back to Delavan, and then at the store for Jeff to pick out a special toy he wanted, we headed to Church to sit outside with the open storage pods, hoping to sell off the remaining pews, and other assorted things... in hopes of emptying them to get those huge red pods off the church lawn next week!

Jeff only had apple juice while we were there and he just wasn't his joyful self. He didn't complain however at all.

But, just after we got home, he did have an episode (in the house) that rivaled the "Barf-o-Rama" segment of the movie, "Stand by Me"... ugghhh, and blech!!

Poor guy ... after cleaning up, he laid down and immediately fell asleep, and slept for the next 2 hours...



It wasn't exactly the fun birthday celebration day we had hoped for... (((hugs and love you Jeff))))... glad you felt better later tonite.. and hope the birthday party tomorrow with your friends is fun!! xoxoxox

ECVA Call For Entries: Under Abraham's Tent

ECVA Call For Entries: Under Abraham's Tent Check out the new Call For Entries at the Episcopal Church & Visual Arts (ECVA) site. Interesting topic to submit for this time around... deadline to enter is July 17th!

This exhibition is open to artists who are members of The Artists Registry @ ECVA. It's easy and FREE to become a member, check it out at ecva.org or go directly to The Artists Registry.

You may submit up to three (3) images for consideration by the Curator this exhibition.

ECVA's Latest Online Exhibition ... Open Studio 2011

About a month or so ago I submitted an entry to the Episcopal Church & Visual Arts latest call to artists. We were asked to share one work, that had not previously been exhibited at any other of the calls to artists. A favorite piece, or one of our best ones, or one of our most current pieces of art. I submitted one of my most current assemblages.



"Wherever you may be..."
Mixed Media, Found Object Assemblage

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..."

Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!

I'm honored to be a part of the exhibit online at the ECVA site. Check out the site for all the wonderful entries there!

Thanks ECVA for including my assemblage in it too!

Pod Remains....

Busy day today .... we are continuing to unpack things from the storage pods that are on the front lawn at the Church. Adding to the many boxes we are still in the process of unpacking and trying to find places to put all the stuff in our newly renovated building.

Here is today's results of unpacking more of the pods... thankful for Ann and Pat who helped unpack today too! Many of these boxes have at least been taken upstairs to various rooms and in the hallway outside where I think they will eventually fit.






Tomorrow will be more unpacking and hauling out stuff from the pods too. It seems like the job that never ends... ugghh...

... and this too shall pass..... Lord in Your mercy... hear our prayer!

Happy Birthday to Grandson Jake!!

Can't believe our grandson is 10 years old already!! We went over to drop off his gift today and visit for awhile. It was nice seeing all the kids.




Jake is going to buy a lizard he says with any money he gets for his birthday ... glad it's at his house and not here.. *lol*

Since I forgot my camera here are a couple of photos of Jake over the years - man oh man does time fly by fast!!

We'll be at a joint birthday celebration for all three grandsons in a week or so ... sure to be photos then of the birthday celebration!



A VERY Happy Birthday ((((Jake)))) ... we love you!! xoxoxxo

Happy Mother's Day!

It was a wonderful, but busy day ... It was so good to have some of the kids home, and be able to go out to my Mom and Dad's for Mother's Day too! We plant my mom's planters as part of her gift (all my sisters, brother in laws and nieces and nephews help!) Here are photos of the day....




My mom, at almost 80 years old on Kaine's new motorcycle... she was "born to be wiiiilddd"! ...*LOL*!




A fun afternoon at Dad and Mom's!!

Mother's Day Champagne Brunch

Thanks to the men from Christ Church who hosted and served a deeeeelicious champagne brunch honoring the women this morning! A fun time, good food, and wonderful gifts in the basket drawing held afterward too!
Here are some of the guys who helped with it: Rich, Dad-Jerry, Ron, Mark, Chip, John, Terry, Mark.

Kaine's Home!! ....with a new motorcycle!

Our youngest son is once again a motorcycle owner ... he came home for Mother's Day weekend today riding his newest purchase .... (and yes, he did wear a helmut for the two hour drive here - thankfully!).

Lord, please keep him safe as he travels and enjoys his new cycle... give Kaine wisdom also as he rides... Amen!

Chair planter for the drawing at Church...

Take one old chair (thanks Mel & Peggy for the dumpster dive find!), apply a few coats of glossy sealer, a planter, some flowers and taahh dahhh - a perfect donation for the Mother's Day Basket Draw and Champagne Brunch at Christ Church tomorrow! Donations of $1 per ticket can get you some wonderful varied gifts... and the men of the parish put on a deeeeelicious brunch honoring ALL women!

All are welcome as we honor all our mothers, even if they can no longer be with us. After our 10 a.m. service ... ALL are welcome!!