Quick trip

Trips home to AL are never really quick (1× hrs one way), but the time spent with family always seems to fly by. This trip was actually planned for the weekend that Hurricane Florence came. So coming during the week meant more time with my parents and an opportunity to help them with a few things, but it meant very little time with siblings and their spouses and children.
We did fit in a ballgame tonight. While my sole purpose was to see my niece perform with the band, it was good to be in the stadiums and cheer for my alma mater.
A few things had changed. The band has a dance team but no rifle line. They also had an electric guitar on the sidelines which totally shocked me. My sister in law was telling me that a nearby school had a small ensemble of them. I guess things change over time.
I took a lot of pics, but won't be able to post them until we get home as phone and internet service is spotty here.
It will be good to be home, but my heart will still be here, longing to finish the projects we started and helping out with some basic things.

double the grandma's

 The kitchen table we currently have came from Bobby's Grandma's/Aunts' house. And as of a few weeks ago, the table runner in the middle is one my Granny Read made.

I don't know why this picture loaded sideways, as it's not that way in my computer. But I'm always amazed at all the handwork ReaRea did. If I tried to embroider this, it would not look anything like this!

Pond maintenance...or the failure thereof

Sunday morning the pond levels were up and we discussed checking the drain for debris but decided it was a combination of rain and road run-off.

This is what we woke up to Monday morning...the pond level with the bottom of the pier and accumulating in the side yard. So my job Monday afternoon was attempting to find the drain. 

Thankfully it worked enough that today I was able to retrieve the hoe and finish cleaning off the halfway exposed drain.

So now most of the leaves and pine straw are off the drain. By tomorrow our pond should be back at normal level!

the week of Florence

At the beginning of last week, I had my list, both mental and 2 physical, of what I needed to do be ready for Hurricane Florence. But life has a way of throwing curveballs, and I have a horrible fault of not being able to determine how long it takes to do something, and those two things in combination meant I was nowhere near ready as I wanted to be.

Our week went something like this:
Monday - laundry, funeral for Mike King, monthly meeting
Tuesday - Wake Tech testing for Kristi (a young neighbor we're helping), teaching 3 hr class at Board of Elections, Bobby's dealing with a mental/physical health crisis situation for an old friend, and I decide to pick the last of the "few" butterbeans because the only tropical storm that has hit Raleigh in the 20 years I've been here destroyed what was left of my garden. Those "few" turned into two bucket fulls (a half-bushel). So guess what I did Tuesday night instead of cleaning house?
Wednesday - taught another class, cut grass, church,choir practice
Thursday - laundry and some cleaning, ran to the grocery store and filled last of meds, prepped the hen house, filled a few containers and a tub with water (in case power outage and the backup generator doesn't work- that's happened more than once!), and two teens from church came and finished cutting the grass, Bobby returned to his friend's house to deal with things once again
Friday - winds and rain, some tv watching of storm coverage, tried to calm the dogs, cooked meals, a lot of FB surfing, lost power, Mom-in-law had tree limb on her house and no power so came to spend the night, Bobby's friend called at midnight and they're back on their way to the hospital

Saturday - power still out. Mom in law left before we were up to see about things at her house, we headed to the hospital and spent a few hours (and experienced a sight we've never seen before - an almost empty hospital parking lot!!!), then came home and were thrilled to get power in the late evening. Indiana power crew...y'all are awesome!!!
Sunday - due to no power at church, we didn't have services and got to sleep in, but watched a devotional from a friend at a flooded church in NC, then read the book of Malachi, got lunch to take to Bobby's Mom. I'm at home while Bobby is back at Rex hospital attempting to access things and talk to a nurse or doctor so we can help determine the next course of action.

We know of three FWB churches that have flooded (one in Washington where my brother-in-law used to pastor) and are hearts are hurting for the families in that church who have to deal with water damage again, both in their church and in their homes. Since Todd left, Darren, the youth pastor, (I was in school with his wife), has been carrying the load.

So it's been a full week, but a week full of reminders of God's providence, His faithfulness,  His never-ending mercy, and His compassion. This next week will hold more of the same, but I'm doing my best to rest in Him while still being busy.

Labors, part2

This was not on my list of things to do today!!! But I am thankful for the bounty, even if it finally came 2 months AFTER I was expecting it. The butterbeans are still producing so I can't let the chickens in to scratch everything up....yet. Maybe in another week or two!!!

Labors

What better thing is there to talk about on Labor Day than labor?

Training for the November elections has begun. I teach my first class this weekend, so I need to make sure I fit in at least 2 dry runs this week.

Wednesday I'm taking a neighbor to an orientation at Wake Tech to see about enrolling her in a GED or high school equivalency program. I'm hoping this will work for her and that we can not only help her get settled school and trade wise but eventually help her obtain a license and car. Getting involved with people's lives can be messy and frustrating and time consuming, but I feel at peace with this.

Working on a project for Bobby's family for Christmas that has turned out to be more time consuming than I dreamednpissible, but I've been loving every minute of it. We need to have it finished by the end of October so we can place the orders and get them back in time.

Hoping to finish 2-3 quilts this month (one I just started a few weeks ago!).

Hope to pull up tomato plants and fill the main part of the garden this week.

Christmas program for the kids is now on the calendar. Hope to meet with a other person in the church and have two ideas to give the pastor by the end of the month. Practices will start mid-October, though we'll have to figure out WHEN they'll happen.

I decided not to apply to work early voting. While I think I would like the new shifts they're doing, I can't see myself committing to 8 hrs a day for 14 days with no off day during one of the busier times of the year. Now with us having a Christmas program this year, I think that was a wise choice.

Two more hens started laying this week, and we may be getting a rooster tomorrow morning.

Hopefully we'll have pics to post soon!