GRRRRRRRRRR!!

I don't know what it is with me an any kind of mechanical stuff!  Bobby A was so generous to bring his power washer over for us to use on the house siding.  I was so excited....but it was going too smoothly.  I hooked it up to the front hose coming from the house that hadn't been used us YEARS.  Water spewing everywhere....no pressure getting to the power washer.  GRRRR!!!  Waiting to move it and tackle another part of the house with another hose....it should be cooler this early evening.
OK, enough whining!
I've been uploading lots of old photos from one of Grandmother's old albums,  This is a sampling of them.  Everyone is enjoying them.  I am so thankful that my family took so many pictures.

Grandmother in the1930s

Terry & I with Granny Wray, Grandmother's mom

Dad & Grandaddy on couch on Patrician Drive

Me in the swings at Ferguson's Park in Newport News

THE HEAT IS FINALLY BREAKING!!

 I think this little sign is appropriate in light of the national election campaigning.  Geezzzz!  I can't even watch the evening news without screaming at the television!  Novenber can't come fast enough.
I'm hoping to get down to Toano to visit Sheila soon.  There's also a display in a field near her home I want to see....not going to give this away until I can get down there and photograph it.

Nablus hosts a couple of summer camps at St Philip's.  This is a photo from the first camp.  We had 8 youth and Father Ibrahim join in workcamping this past summer.  Again it changed the perspective.  We had the Workcamp 2016 Olympics since the world was experiencing the regular olympics in Rio.  So much fun!!!!
Allie comes home from Roanoke today. I finished trimming the shrubs in the front of the house.  It involved a 12' ladder.....I am beat from it!  Next I'm going to try to borrow a power washer so that I can do the house, deck and pool area before it gets chilly  This place really needs sprucing up! I put up a new door, painted and added new carpet and plants to the screened porch.  It's finally getting cool enough to sit out there & enjoy.  I also got a new ceiling fan in the spring, but have yet to put it together.  Ben says he'll hang it for me.

BYE BYE MAY FLIES!

Well, it seems to be cooling down a wee bit.  There's more of a breeze and thankfully the may flies have thinned out!  I started trimming the shrubs in the front of the house a couple weeks ago, but had to stop because of battling the flies.  Started again today....with a stronger and safer ladder also:)

Here's the link to the new and improved workcamp website.  One of our young staffers is a whiz and loaded up all of the photos for each year, different links and so much more.  It really looks good and is so helpful!
http://www.tcworkcamps.org

 Our little old Yorkie, Louie, is getting a little slower.  I ordered a set of little steps so that he doesn't crash when he tries to jump up on the bed with us.  Alicia found him roaming around her house about 4 years ago. We rescued him and am so glad we did.  He's so loveable and grateful that he's not on the road anymore:)  I really love that little guy

I visited Al at their home yesterday.  We browsed through genealogy and watched Ru Paul on TV for a lazy overcast day.  She heads to Roanoke tonight for a two day Reiki training session.  So proud of her.

I THINK IT'S GETTING COOLER

I'm an idiot!  I was running water in the pool and left it on all night!  Now we can't flush toilets until the water builds up again.  It shouldn't be long, but I feel really Dumb!

This is a photo of John when the new Carson Fire Station was dedicated  earlier this year.  He was asked to open with prayer.  He meets with the firemen about twice a month and shares being on call with about 6 other chaplains.  He's had to complete courses online through FEMA.  Very proud of him!

This is Allie when she was sitting for her little niece on Ben's side of the family.  Little Zoey turned one last week and had her birthday party at a local pool.  She is quite the little diva!  

This is a throw back picture from last October from Allie's bridal shower at the Blue Willow Tea Room.  Her Aunt Paige hasn't changed a bit through the years.  She is beautiful.  Lives in Newport News.







I guess I will catch up little by little.I have neglected to write regularly for so many months!  I planning to head to Richmond today to spend the day with Allie.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TIME GOES....

This is crazy!  I don't know where the hours go.  Right now I am enjoying time after WORKCAMP 2016.  The heat is such a killer though that I am blaming it for not really getting anything done!
Allie and Ben are doing great.  She is dedicating herself to her REIKI business.  If you want to reach out to her you can be clicking on REIKI by ALEXINA

Camp was amazing this year.  I was concerned about the low number of campers for the first week, but it actually was a positive thing.  The camp was more intimate and less chaotic.  Ben was a handyman first week, so I got to see lots of him and Allie.
I wasn't feeling well at the beginning of the first week.  To make a long story short, I am on a low dose of insulin daily now.  Am feeling much better and am looking forward to seeing an endocrinologist in October.  Gotta get this old bod in shape!

We had so much fun with our friends from Nablus.  There were 8 youth and Fr Ibrahim.  It adds such a rich dimension to camp!  

Ok...already I have to stop!  Al is on the way down!  More in a later post! 

IS IT REALLY APRIL!!???

Yes, she went there!  My goofy red-headed minister friend stalked a Trump rally!  Nuff said!
It's supposed to be April, but I heard they had snow flurries at the Monument 10K run in Richmond this morning.  The daffodils have already bloomed and gone and we have frost warnings tonight!  Al and Ben have hung beautiful baskets of flowers on their porch....only to have to bring them in at night.
Easter was lovely.  Better yet, Edyth, Cass, Ellen, Allie & Ben were down last Friday night for dinner and fun.  The Pruitts had been to NYC on a junket, so they spent the night with us on the way home.
I've been enjoying doing some things around the house bit by bit.  I've been cutting back about 6-8feet of the driveway each day so that it won't envelope us this year.  The pool is up and running also...just need to beat back the bushes down there also.
Allie and I have met and eaten together at Venus de Milo in Colonial Heights several times.  I love going to that little restaurant.  Love the food and it reminds of of all our friends in Nablus.

Saba called and invited me to hear ARUN GANDHI, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi at Deep Run High School last weekend.  Bought a couple of the children's books and he signed them.  Also bought his book and had him sign Fr Ibrahim's name....will give it to him this summer.  John and I are reading it first .
Our sweet little Daisy kitty passed away.  She had been with us since Allie was in the 7th grade.  Sweet little rescued kitty.
I hope the weather calms down.  I really want to go outside:(

It's A Good Day For Sleeping

I guess there is a lot going on....my list keeps growing longer and longer.  For every one thing I check off , I add two :)  It's all good though, just my brain doesn't multitask as well as it used to..

 I am tap dancing as fast as I can to raise the money for plane tickets for ten of our Palestinian friends.  I set up a go fund me site, but lots of folks aren't savvy when it comes to gifting online.  I'm getting a chance soon to do another presentation on Palestine.  It will be for the Wesley U.M.C. youth group and any other interested parents.  It is a church that is deeply committed to hosting the Nablus group once they get here.  So many strong friendships have been formed between these two groups.  I received word that Sami's mother passed away this week.  I have to guess when I see the Arabic online...Allie fills me in.
Allie & Ben are enjoying their life together.  I Facetime with Allie several times a day when she is with little Zoey.  Her Reiki happening was postponed in Roanoke.  Her instructor's dad had a stroke.  I'm sure she'll hear something again soon.  Ben is working days for three weeks so they are excited to not be ships passing in the night with different work schedules The new ID bracelets arrived the other week for summer workcamp.  I believe we will do the t-shirts in yellow this year because yellow was Charlie Curtis' favorite color.
Jeffrey just completed a school bus ROAD-EO in Louisville, KY . He had lots to jabber about on the phone yesterday.  I miss seeing him during the year.
I plan on going to the florist today to pick up a palm frond so that I can weave some crosses for John's folks at First Christian for Palm Sunday.  Will post a picture of one.  It's relaxing to do while I watch a couple shows in the evening.
John and I watched "THE HEART OF THE SEA" , a movie loosely based on Herman Melville's "Moby Dick".  Good movie!  The daffodils are blooming early this year.  Picked a bunch for Al to take back up to her house the other day.
Better get busy.  My list is calling me:)