Thursday

We both had eye doctor appointments this morning. Unfortunately they do the "medical" part of the eye exam one day, then we have to go back in a week or so to have our vision exams.  I don't know why they don't do it all at once.  I think that would be much more efficient.  Since I have a "freckle" on my eyeball, I get to have pictures taken of my eyes too see if there's any change.  The poor girl who took these pictures took 12 pictures but never did see the freckle.  I told her we'd better find it and take a picture of it, or Dr H would make us do it again!  So I explained where it is on my eyeball and after she finally found it, she was able to get a picture.  It didn't change, thank God.

After lunch Dave went to Bryan's to paint doors and shelves - he's got more room to spread out!  While he was there he picked a few tomatoes for us!!

More later...

Wednesday

Another day and a second coat of primer.  I went to Lowe's to pick up the regular paint as well as some other things Dave needed.

Other than that, not much new around here!

More later...

Tuesday

Construction has started!!  Actually it's not construction...mostly just painting so far.  The first coat of primer is on the cabinet structure.  It's going to look really nice!!  Tomorrow I go get the paint, which we'll start on Thursday...after 2 coats of primer.  I said we, but Dave won't let me paint.  He thinks it'll hurt my back too bad.  So I'm running errands - I'd rather paint!

More later...

CHAOS!!

We're in chaos again!  One of the things that needed to be done when we moved into this condo was to finish around the windows.  For some reason, the previous owners never did this.  Well, we've been here almost 3 summers and now Dave has a plan.  Unfortunately, it's making a mess!!  We're starting in the craft/bonus room.  So this morning we cleaned out all of the shelving unit, removed the shelves, and the doors.  Yes, I said we!  Tomorrow we start painting them white.  Right now they're a dark stained plywood.  I'm afraid this will take about a week to finish...or more.  Yuck!!

More later...

Sunday

Today was Pastor David's last Sunday at FPC in O-town.  He's retiring.  I sure wish we could have been there.  Instead we had a wonderful sermon today at FPC in the 'loo.  This evening I watched the video of Pastor David's sermon today. Thru technology I got to be in both places!

After church today we went to Morg's.  We had decided we were going to wait for a table no matter how long it took,  We got in about 20 minutes after arriving and about 30 minutes after placing our order, we got our food.  Yes, it's that good - well worth the wait!

Bryan and Aidan came by the afternoon.  Aidan is so fun now that he's trying to string words together.  He's learning his colors - he got blue, red, black, orange, brown and pink right today.  He's also been working on his numbers.  Actually he's trying to say almost everything you say to him!  Thank you, God.

More later...

Saturday

It was a typical fall day here today...gray and windy.  It was supposed to be 72 out, but I sat out on the balcony to read for about 5 minutes before I came in thoroughly chilled!  Great football weather!!

Dave finished up patching a lady's ceiling here at the condo.  Then after lunch he went to Bryan's for the afternoon.  I was pretty bored.  I had just closed my eyes to take a nap when he came home.  I went back to the bedroom and took a short nap after reading for a bit.

More later...

Friday

Another week is already gone!  We're less 2 months from Florida already.  We're already gathering stuff that has to go with us.  We're getting a good pile!  Sudi, if you're reading this, we have your salsa maker!  They went up a bit from the last time we bought one, but it was still the same guy demoing them!  They're also much improved...new blades which make it easier to turn!  We even got a new blade for ours.

Dave and I went to the chiropractor today.  We both needed it badly.   Since wee couldn't get the Cubs game tonight, I watched CNN.  Oh my.  Lots of news tonight.

More later...

Fun evening!

Our evening was sure fun.  We went to Carlos O'Kelly's with Bryan, Erin & Aidan.  Aidan was a hoot!  He's just started talking overnight.  He kept saying Grandpa Dave and Grandma Peg.  He picked macaroni for dinner.  Told me what color his crayons were...I think he guessed, but he got it right!  He even wanted me to color with him!

I heard from Bob today.  He's half way through with his treatments - yay!  Now his middle daughter lives in San Antonio and they're bracing for 20+ inches of rain.  I hope they're safe.

We had issues with Mediacom today.  Internet was down for hours.  Grrrr...

More later...

Wednesday

We got some things done around the house today.  Good deal.  We also went shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond - I love that place!

Here's something I wanted you to hear last night, but I couldn't get my phone to download it!!

We get to see him tomorrow!!  Can't wait!

More later...

Tuesday

Yesterday was cloudy, cool, and rainy.  Today was the opposite - sunny, breezy, and just beautiful.  We could have seen the eclipse if we'd had this weather yesterday.  We ate our lunch out on the balcony and I even sat out there and read this afternoon.

We've got a couple of hummers flitting about, eating the food we've put out for them.  While I was reading outside, one of them came to eat.  After a few sips, she saw me and flew up into the tree.  I was going in to get the camera, but I figured she wouldn't stay on the branch.  Boy was I wrong.  After about 20 minutes, she did a recon flight and saw me still there, so up to the branch she went.  I'll bet she was there another 20 minutes.  I finally came in so she would feel comfortable eating.  I heard her little chirps within just a few minutes of my coming inside.  The little male didn't show his face while I was out there today.

We got a video from Bryan of Aidan saying both Grandpa Dave and Grandma Peg!!

More later...

Total Eclipse

We've been waiting for  the total eclipse forever, it seems.  We here in Waterloo are now hoping that the one in  2024 will be able to be seen!  It was very cloudy here today, so no eclipse.  It did get a bit darker, but that's all we saw.  Darn!

Here's a picture of Blaise and I reading about dinosaurs! I wish Dave had come in a little closer, so my legs weren't the first thing you see!

More later...

Sunday

It was good to be back in our own church this morning.  Good sermon, too.  I thought the scripture was very appropriate for the world today.  It is from Acts 2.

Acts 2:37-42 ³⁷When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" ³⁸Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the LORD our God will call." ⁴⁰With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." ⁴¹Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. ⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

It just spoke to me.  I feel like if we remember our baptism, and listen to what God has to say, we can forget this mess the US is in and be able to relax knowing our futures.

We wanted to go to Morgs for breakfast after church, but it was full.  So we went to Village Inn and it was PACKED!  So we came home to eat.  Dave went to Bryan's for the afternoon and I did the Sept newsletter and calendar.  Yay!  I also got to watch the Cubs win in extra innings!!

More later...

Friday & Saturday

I don't remember what happened yesterday...oh yeah, I fixed the pillowcase for Dave's wedge pillow for one thing.  Dave mowed here at the condo while I was doing whatever I was doing. Then about 4:30 we went to Linda's.  Bob & Ann were there for the weekend so I sat and talked to my brother for quite a while.  Then Kyle, Cassie, and Blaise arrived!  He was being bashful with us.  That was a first.  It didn't last long though, because we had a bite of supper and I sat at his little table with him.  When we got done eating, he wanted me to read to him.  We read 3 and a half books before it was time to go to the party.  He didn't want to go but I left the book and he got ready.  The party was a get together for Clayton & Kaylee.  Clayton will be leaving in a couple of weeks for The Netherlands where he'll play basketball for Leiden this year.  Kaylee won't be going until October sometime because she's the maid of honor in a wedding.  So she and the dog will join him after his season starts.

It was a great party - tons of food, perfect weather, and Clayton's band.  Good music, guys!!

Today we did some things to the camper and then we installed our EasyView TV.  We did something wrong, though, so we have to wait for tech support to call us back on Monday.  We also covered my recliner - so no more pinkish raspberry in our living room!!  Yay!

More later...

Home again!

We made it home, safe and sound - thank you, God!  We had a very good time on our little trip.  On Saturday night we went to a party for our O-town pastor, David, and his wife, Liz.  It was a great group of hand-selected people who have been friends with David & Liz for the past 7 years.  It coincided with David's retirement and his 70th birthday, as well as their pending move to Wisconsin to begin their retirement life.  Fun times and lots of laughs!

Sunday we went to church with our old friends and then lunch with a group of 10.  Then Monday we went to Cantril to get our 25 pounds of popcorn for Florida, plus a list of stuff from Ann.  We met Bob & Ann for lunch at the Recovery Room.  Bob has now had 13 radiation treatments out of 35.  He says they drive for 3 hours (both ways) for 3 minutes of treatment.  Say a few prayers for my brother!

After lunch we took off for Cherry Glen campground at Saylorville.  We couldn't get in at Adventureland.  Cherry Glen is beautiful and quiet!!  Unfortunately they didn't have any WIFI at all.  We checked our phones by using data, but didn't use them for anything else.  We did, however, have decent tv viewing for the evenings when we returned from the Fair.  Again, the Iowa State Fair was wonderful.  We were there two partial days and saw lots.  This is the first time we didn't eat a bunch of junk!  We had a great time!

More later...

Off we go

We're heading out again tomorrow morning.  This time, we're heading to O-town until Monday afternoon.  Then we'll be going to Des Moines for the best state fair ever!  We plan to be back in the 'loo on Thursday afternoon.  So  today was spent packing the camper!

We plan to take off early in the morning so we can have a Canteen for lunch!  We've got a get-together tomorrow night with friends, then church on Sunday.  Monday morning we're heading to Cantril to get stuff for Florida.  Monday afternoon we get to see Bob & Ann and then off to Des Moines.  Tuesday and Wednesday are fair days and back here on Thursday.  Are you tired yet???

More later...

Great day

I had a really good day today.  My back feels pretty good today!  I had a pedicure this afternoon and ran the massage chair 2 times - that was wonderful!  Plus my toes look pretty cool if I do say so myself!  After that I ran to Bed Bath & Beyond and bought a slip cover for my sofa, and some pretty pillows too.  I've been so tired of the raspberry colored couch and recliner!  Now it looks new!

More later...

Wednesday

We had a fun day today - separately though!  Dave went to Bryan's this morning and did some big mowing, while I ran some errands.  I needed to get my hair cut and my brows done.  Then I ran to the dry cleaners.  My next stop was at the Library to get a library card.  That was a simple and painless procedure.  I also was able to get some instruction on how to load ebooks onto my Kindle (which are FREE!!!) and even got my first ebook downloaded!  Yay!!

I was going to get a pedicure too, but I ran out of time.  So that has to wait until tomorrow or after we get back from our next adventure!

More later...

Tuesday

Today was a very restful day.  We both slept really, really well last night but we need to catch up from the weekend.

PEO meeting tonight and then popcorn for supper!  Started to watch the Cubs, but they got behind 3-0 in the first inning so I shut them off.

More later...

Monday

We made it to Indiana and back safely...thank you, Lord.  Friday night we went to see Don since he'd just gotten out of the hospital that afternoon.  He was glad to see us, but you could tell he was in pain.  We saw him several more times over the weekend, and he said he's feeling better each day.  After we saw him for a short visit on Friday night, Suzy, Greg, Roberta, Dave and I went to a late dinner at Old Style.  Then back to Roberta's for strawberry shortcake.  I'm still stuffed!

Roberta's bed doesn't like me, so I had a really hard time sleeping both Fri & Sat nights.  Saturday, we met a couple of ladies that Dave had gone to school with for lunch.  Then we all took naps in the afternoon - after visiting with Don.

Sunday we went to church with Bev, then went to Dave's reunion of students who had gone to Deacon elementary together.  There were 18 out of 27 students in attendance.  They had a lot of fun reminiscing and getting caught up on each other's lives.

We got up early this morning, so got to Waterloo by 3:00.  Stopped on the way home at Carlos O'Kelley's for Mexican food.  After unloading the car, Dave went to Bryan's and I took a nap until it was time for my massage.  That felt really good!  We're both really glad to be home!

More later...

Thursday

We're packing because we're heading to Indiana in the morning.  We'll be gone for a couple of days...just going to two class reunion type of events for Dave.  I may not even take my computer.  I can survive with just my phone!

Oh, I finished 70 Christmas cards today.  They are in a bag, in a box that will go to Florida with us!!  Yay!

More later...

Wednesday

I am so confused...I've got to get to church!  If I don't go to church, I lose track of what day it is. We haven't been there for a month.  We won't make it this Sunday either.  We're heading for Indiana for a reunion of Dave's classmates from this one little town where they went to elementary school.

I worked on Christmas cards while Dave went to Bryan's.  He came home so excited.  Aidan gave him a bye-bye kiss.  That's the first time!  He usually gives me one, but not Dave.  We were able to get in to see the chiropractor late this afternoon, too.

More later...

1 Month Anniversary

It was a month ago when I fell at church...July 2nd.  I finally was able to sleep all night in the bed.  I still can't sleep on my side the way I like to sleep.  So I'm still not happy with it.  When I sleep the way I like to sleep, I'm sort of twisted to my front...I'm not on my right hip at all.  That puts pressure on my ribcage and that still hurts.  I'm getting closer though!

Today I worked on Christmas cards again.  Now I'm assembling them and then the last step will be to stamp the sentiment on the inside.  I bought a new product which will be very helpful with that.  It's called MISTI and it'll take my shakes out of the equation!!

Here are a couple of pix from the weekend.  The first is Bryan, Erin, and Aidan in the water park.

Storm Lake is full of these carvings.  When a tree dies or blows down, a local artist carves them into various animals, people, etc.  Here are a couple of them from the park.  

More later...