HELLO!

Pink Turtleheads
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

What a new life we have going on here. My girls are back in school. They are adjustig better than expected. I haven't seen Kelsey this happy in a long long time. It pays to have faith, right Cindy?

The garden is coming to a close on blooms. The work of transplanting and dividing will begin. I am working towards a nine season garden for shade & partial shade. Not too easy and a bit expensive. But a challenege I plan on mastering.

We are still down to one car. But I think that it is a blessing considering to cost of gas. Our life style works well with one car anyway.

Looking forward to a long weekend and plenty of time to work on the treehouse. The Hornbeck's are coming into town for the jam on Saturday. The girls should have a great time!

I am thinking about my buddy Annie who is out in the Grand Teton area this week with her boy. How cool is that? I watched a PBS special last night about the
The Rockies By Rail

that traveled from Denver to Portland. It is a dream of mine to travel by train to see and experience the Rockies's from a restored Luxury train .

"Climb aboard The American Orient Express for a journey over the Continental Divide, through Salt Lake City, and to the nation's grandest national parks - Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Experience breathtaking views of rugged peaks and vast open plains from your seat on carefully restored vintage Pullman cars. Ride along the rims of phenomenal canyons, including Byers Canyon where the train makes the sharpest turn in the country. Featuring a plush lounge car, an elegant dining car serving gourmet meals and sleeper cars boasting lavish suites, The Rockies by Rail promises an unforgettable train adventure through the heart of the West".

Jenny Lake Annie! does it get any better than that?

Treehouse Year Three~Sofits!!

Treehouse Year Three~Sofits!!
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

I hear the tree nuts hitting the roof of the tree's these days. I love hearing that 'bing' sound. Fall is on the cusp. The garden is getting a golden brown tone to it now that the season is coming to a close. I have plenty of work to do out there and I plan on enjoying every minute of it.

These past few days have been heaven. The cool nights have me sleeping hard. At least until Mackinaw starts barking because other dogs are barking in the neighborhood. It funny how I can tell what a bark means by the different barks he makes. Last night was the "someone is in my yard bark" that one always gets me out of bed. usually that just means a raccoon, but I look anyway.

The school buses are runnning today. The familiar sound of whinning tires irritates me because Mackinaw chases them (within the boundary of his yard of course) But it's all that barking that gets to me. But it's his life and he loves it.

School starts tomorrow for my girls. They are ready, excited and nervous. Lots of questions this week about school, but no regrets, it is what it is and it is good.

Pink Creek Service & Picnic

Pink Creek Service & Picnic
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

Yesterday was the perfect weather for the Outdoor service at Pink Creek. We had a pretty good turn out and tons of food. I mad my famous (my dad's famous) baked beans with pineapple slices. It was practically licked clean!

The service was short and sweet, I hope a running trend. The 300 water balloons we fille up was a big hit. especially with the college students and their parent! Some one had to carry the buckets! Needless to say, we had to pick up all the balloon bits afterwards. But it was worth it.

We did make it tothe water park Saturday. It was another very nice day. unfortunalty our car troubles are mounting on themselves. When we got back Tom felt he needed to change the spark plugs and wires beacuse the car was missing badly. It sounded really bad! Between that and the small hole in the muffle, all we needed now is big puffs of black smoke coming out of the exhaust everytime we put on the gas!!

Our new Pastor Rob

Our new Pastor Rob
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

A Big waterballoon fight

A Big waterballoon fight
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

Some Hot Volleyball

Some Hot Volleyball
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

Hosta plantaginea

Hosta plantaginea
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

I am just now starting to remember that I had lost many files pertaining to my garden on the old computer. It is heart wrenching! All that work. I guess that gives me room for improvements?

Thistel

Thistel
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

The traffic has doubled today. the student are back in full force. Forget getting any running around done today. Mejiers is opening thier doors and theirr parking lot to the college students. There were hundreds! I ran for the hills of Target to get some relief....no chance. Off to walgreens I went with great success. what a waste of time. Plus it's hot as hell out and the air doesn't work in the car.

Why all the running around? well, I am in charge of recreation for our church's outdoor serrvice at Pine Creek this Sunday. I had...HAD to get water balloons and bubbles! They were harder to find than I thought they would be. I was kicking myslef while walking through Target knowing I should have picked them up when I saw them two weeks ago at a great price. Lucky for me my Walgreens still had them both and on clearance.

I saw Barb at the post office today. She looks great as usual. She is having a fund-raiser with Pampered Chef to raise money to help with finances for their adoption of a little girl from china. I agreed to catalog sales.

I will be now happily employed at home working with my husband learning all the in's and out's of E-bay. If we are persistant about it we could pull an extra $500.00 a month. We need to get this debt off our backs in order to deal with the fact that both of our cars are dying at the same time.

I have plenty of items to put onthe site myself. Plus other people who want us to put things on for a price. (not enough in my thoughts). Maybe if I can get it down good enough I might consider it as an option. So that's my life, my husbands secretary with fringe benefits!!!

"Oh, Mr. Blake, is there anything else I can DO for you?" (eye lashes fluttering)

We have a mother daughter night tonight at Laureens. We are doing hair, nails,talking and eating. I think we are the only ones going. Doug and Brandon are going out of town so we have the whole place to our selves. Rock and roll!!!

Morning Dew

Morning Dew
Originally uploaded by CountryGuys.

does it get any better than this? Great Job CG!

AGARICS Family 'Psathyrella gracilis'

dscn0188
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

Agarics Family

dscn0186
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

It's been too long

This is me
Originally uploaded by Naphátú.

We didn't make it out to the lake to visit with Lorine and Wayne because of the wet weather.So Lorine and I decided we would go out that night. (Thursdday) . Cindy wasn't able to go with us unfortunately.

I picked up Lorine at 6:00 at her parents house. Man! is her mom looking really old these days. I thought she quit smoking . but it was very obvious to me she hadn't. Mr. Kelsch looks the same. He hasn't changed much at all since I met him for the first time my senior year in high school. We ended up at Samaries talking and smoking cloves until 11:00. Who knew we'd have so much to talk about?

We ended up sitting in the car in my driveway that was pitched black "talking" until way after 1:00 .
While we were "talking" Tigger our cat, decided he would pay us a little visit scaring the crap out of Lorine when he jumped on top of the car. He came in-the windows and got all the loving he could out of her and left satisfied ......we thought. While the 'talking' took hold and we kicked back with my fingers tapping the top frame of my window, something fury attacked my hand and sent me screaming like a little girl, which of course sent Lorine into a hysterical laugh to the point of crying. "I thought it was a hugh hairy spider grabbing at me!" That sent her again into another uncontrollable fit. Tigger of course was out to mess with our minds, because all he really wants is to be let in and eat so he can get back out to hunt! So while Lorine continues to laugh Tigger decides that it was Lorine's turn to get padded on-her fingers that was cupping her window frame and that made her jump and leaned all the way over on my side of the car! Like that cat is dicking with us man!!! He soon retired to the back of the trunk and left being satisfied and soon bored with us.

We laughed so hard that night several times. I'm sure if I had anything that allied me , it is surely gone now. For those kind of hard crying laughs are surely healing.
Looking forward to the Jam on Saturday and the gathering here afterwards. I was hoping for another bon fire, but the weather hasn't been cooperating. Vincent and his wife and Lisa, Lorine's sister will be joining us Saturday night. Lorine finds it interesting how her siblings have been living there social lives through her over the many years when they come into town. What we have as a group of friends is in deed rare. To be able to go and come and pick up right where you left off brings comfort and security to a person. I count myself very lucky in deed to have the richness I have in my life and for my family lives. What a gift we give our children to continue this in their lives as well. ~Distance and years will not a void make for us.......

~"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

strike four and your luck will change?

Carnivorous Pitcher Plant
Originally uploaded by Por Bem.

The day before we left for chicago, Tom noticed one of the tire had a screw sticking out of it. He wanted to take the van in and get a plug put in the tire but the man said all the tires needed replacing. They only had 30,000 miles on them! We were warranted up to 60,000. They gave a a credit of $25.00 for each tire but the bill was still over $200.00. (that's one).

Made it to Laporte to pick up Mom and off to the American Girl store. we have never been there when it was this packed before. I'm finding it harder and harder to be in large crowds of people anymore. But I did get to see my friend Suzie and her daughter Kit from Girlscout. Suzie is the girlscout leader and I am the Assistant no more. At least when I call her and tell her I am not coming back to gilrscout this year (sheepish grin).

We had to take Kelsey's doll to the doll hospital to get her premature balding problem taken care of. After all the paper work was done we walked away far enough where Kelsey felt comfortable to to say that she thinks two of the girls she talks to on the American Girl chat site are there. One of them is from California!!! How did she reconize them? How did they recognize each other?

Well, come to find out, they talked so much about the condition of their dolls and what they wear on a regular basis, they couldn't help but notice and put two and two together. They were off chatting about how they recognize each other and what they were going to get that day. ~ with their own money of course, In the meantime the mom's just stood their looking like cod fish with their mouths hanging open.

After lunch and a trip to the Science and Industry museum, the cruise got bumped due to weather, we headed home. Just past the LaPorte exit the muffler on the van starts to scrapand bounce on the road and bangs and tinks off across the road ending up in the middle of the tollway while three semi trucks try expertly to avoid running over it. The last truck nipped it with it's front tire sending it to the side of the road. what a site. we are so so glad we did'nt cause an accident (number two).

Mom problably thikns we are such bad car owners. She's the one that GAVE us the van. LOOSERS!

The next day was a last minute dentist appt for Kelsey and a song that needed to be worked on at Laureens. "The muffler will have to wait, but wait!! theirs anitfreeze leaking front he van! where is that coming from?" (number three) "It will have to wait we are late!" Backing up the van to leave for Laureens and smashing my tripod sprinkler was (number four). It has to get better now right?
We see nothing but money signs in front of our eyes. Taking vacations are starting to get expensive and we hardly went anywhere!!

(Gilt Edge Toad Lily)

(Gilt Edge Toad Lily)
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

Thanks to Tom frugal ways, he was able to purchase a camera tripod called Silk Universal U212 for $2.95. this Tripod cost like $100.00!!! And what a big help it is in taking still shots with my little Nikon coolpix 3200. Now I feel like I need to retake all the photos I've already taken this year. How heart breaking is that? The photo shop on this new comuter has some really nice features that make the job even eaiser. Love it!!

Lorine called today. trying to get a girls night out tonight with her and Cindy. hopfully it will include margaritas! maybe some cloves?

Well, off to the treehouse!!

Rainbow briefs?

rainbow briefs
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

Well, I was on my way to church yesterday, buzzing through three lanes of traffic and out of the corner of my eye was a man, in his late sixies early seventy's; MOWING his yard in a rainbow colored speedo and nothing else!!!!

EW!

That jumped started my morning. The only thing I regret is that no one else was in the car the laughing out loud with me.

Yesterday was a congregational forum/lunch. Carol Smith was in charge of the youth to have them plan and make the lunch. That meant that everything would be Raw. Yes, raw food is all she eats. It was amazing!! of course I would love it. every dish had garlic in it!!
It was nice that she put recipes out for every dish she made. too bad I didn't pick up any copies for myself.

Church was great! The new part time pastor, Rob Miller, will bring to our church the newness and freshness it so desperately needs. I haven't felt this way about our church since Chuck Taylor was there. Chuck was also and Interm. We must be a Interm church.
By not being a sunday school teacher I can slip myself into a floating position and dabble here and there throughout th church without having any big commitment and still feel like I am contributing in a positive way.

Tom and I were hoping to steal away a few days to ourselves, but having to purchase a new computer pretty much put a stop to that. The treehouse will take up anything else we might have extra anyway. That's okay. what's four years out of our lives anyway?

Melessia from my church has had a bed and breakfast for several years. She gave me a number to call to register our home on the B&B list. It sounds like she take a third though. I don't like that. It's not like I want to be packed all the time. I think I will do my own, word of mouth advertisment for a while. maybe take on some overflow from other B&B's. It sounds like with the booming hotel growth, the overflow isn't as demaning. Which works for me. I would prefer to work with people who want B&B's only. I know I would prefer a B&B over a hotel when it would be just Tom and I. young children are not the usual for the home games. It is mostly parents of students already attending the university.


`

White Baneberry~dolls eyes

White Baneberry~dolls eyes
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

It is quite clear why this white baneberry is called doll's eyes. I only get one bundle of eyes for several flowers though.

Got up very early this morning, Tom and I did. Coffee and the Sunday paper, coffee and bagels at the table outside. As I pass through the new screen door that Tom had finished, I breathe in deep the of the old cabin smell and find myself somewhere else just for a moment.

Working on the treehouse soffits today. Our hope is to get the siding on this fall so we can work during the cooler fall days inside the treehouse. knotty pine boards will go on the walls and the ceiling next.

Today starts our second week of vacation. according to the girls we haven't done much this first week that was vacationy. So this week we will make up for that with daytrips. Chicago is on the list. First the american girls store (shocker!) no purchase nesscessary, then a few blocks south on to the Big Bowl for lunch. Again moving south to Wacker Drive for the Chicago Architeture River Cruise. This would be really cool at night!

We had high hopes of camping, but the hot weather makes it hard to predict a suitable night or two of comfort. So spoiled are we. We might play it by ear still though. This week Cindy and Lorine come into town for the week. Plus we have a FriendsJam on Saturday. It seems as though the week is closing in on us now with future plans. I guess it was good thing to sluff around a bit this past week.

Yet to experience before school starts: (I am testing my linkablility, wish me luck)

~Camping
~Deep River Waterpark
~Going to Lake Michigan to walk along the beach and bury dad.
~The Drive-in Movies
~A long family bike ride along the bike trails downtown.

~The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children.--G. K. Chesterton

Amy's Turn!

Amy's Turn!
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

There She Goes!

There She Goes!
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

So.......If you come over to our house, YOU HAVE to take a ride on the most dangerous go-cart in Indiana!
I feel very white trashy now. Is this just part of growing up as a child? Riding go carts willy nilly as you crash into trees? Or run over a bee hive in the same spot in the yard over and over again until they are so worked up that when dad goes out to mow he gets stung three times?

Laureen thought it was awesome!! Laughing the whole way until I told her she was just feet away from the underground bee hive. And all I thought was "man, it's starting to wear down the grass!"

Maybe I just need to loosen up. Maybe I should relive a once lost childhood and rexperience what things could have been like. maybe in doing that I could have fresh vibrant eyes to see the world with a new?

Tom and I were hoping to have a few hours alone today. but no such luck. The bees are too bad out to play in the yard. I might beable to get some watering done without gettting stung. Poor Laureen was just standing there and got Zapped. I think this isn't going to be a pretty year for bees (wasps).

Saw a couple from our church at the Farmers Market this morning. The congregation is taking a vote tomorrow to keep our young interm pastor as a partime until he finishes his schooling and becomes our fulltime pastor.

Now that I am writing this out loud, I do remember saying that it would be nice to have a woman pastor. (I wondered why they paused and looked at me funny when I said I would vote for that arrangement.) Finding a pastor for our church has been a very long on going process. I can't imagine the pressure of that job.

Rob used to be an auto machanic gone ministry. He is young and a little off centered in his approach to Sunday service. He keeps me there for the service.
Our chuch can only afford a partime pastor. So I hope the search stops now so we can start focusing on what we have at hand and make it work.

~Flowers do not force their way with great strife. Flowers open to perfection slowly in the sun... Don't be in a hurry about spiritual matters. Go step by step, and be very sure.
~ White Eagle

FINISHED!!

FINISHED!!
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

Whose Next?

Whose Next?
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

Spores

Originally uploaded by Naphátú.

Getting ready to open up the house for the weekend. Just in time too, Tom just finished the screen door for the mudroom. It looks like it has always been there. Wooden doors was definitely the way to go. Tom said he would not have been happy with an aluminum door. I would have to agree.

I can't seem to relax. I don't have a book to read during this down time. I'm so used to reading crap now that I can't seem to find my way back to something substantial. Maybe some ideas would be good? HELP!

after several weeks of agony and discussion with Tom about weather or not church should stay in our lives, we decided it would. I'm glad not to be on the fence anymore about this. The idea that I had to be there every week was hard on all of us because of being a sunday school teacher. Now, by not being a teacher, this will allow us to be a bit more flexable about attendance. But, of course the need is great at our church for just about every facet there is to be filled, but I will not feel responsible for seeing that they are otherwise occupied. I cannot scarifice myself anymore. I am getting no where with myself if I continue to do so. I will offer where I feel fit to give my best without question. that is all. that will be enough.

My sister-in law is looking for some kind of response to the 'we are going to be grandparents twenty years eailer than we thought' e-mail. I guess I should make an efffort and get back to them and be supportive, but to be encouraging? It's just not in me right now. It was a bubble that I didn't expect to popped.

I feel this great weight for the world being so screwed up. That there are way too many people on this earth and we keep adding to the mess the way we do. where's tthe control? It's too big .Too much. I can't wrap my head around it all when we have such preciousness in our lives that we are putting out there.

trying to keep the focus and be flexbale?

~Experiencing the present purely is being empty and hollow; you catch grace as a man fills his cup under a waterfall.
~ Annie Dillard

JOE PYE WEED

JOE PYE WEED
Originally uploaded by merelyhere.

Well, the new computer is up and running. We have been so patience for this day!!!!!
It's taken the last 24 hours for me to get acclimated with the newer programs. I just hope I don't delete anything important!!!

The heat has returned and so has my hybernation into the airconditioning. This sucks. I have tons I would like to be doing in the yard.

Tom has been fixing a go-cart for a friend of ours that crashed it into a tree and bent the frame. The motors is Tom's and he doesn't want to give it back to the boys in fear that they will destroy the engine with their next ride. The engine is way too powerful for the size of the cart. But what do I know?
All I know is my girls talked Tom in to putting the engine on the dam thing so they could ride it around in the yard!!! It vibrates so much that you can't stay on it long for fear of brain damage!!

Oh yeah.! I forgot you hvae to be sittingin the thing when Tom pulls the cord to start the engine or the cart drives off on it's own.....which IT DID! and cruised acrossed my large row of hostas and crashed into the neighbors snow fence. Poor Tom couldn't get up the speed to catch it in time.

Thanks god the fence stopped it. The fence looks like crap and my hosta will come back next year DAMIT! I need a clove! Okay, yes, I tried driving it. It's loud and smelly and my knees where up to my ears just to sit on it! Good Riddance!