Sometimes I forget things

Jim became a published author this month.   I meant to post something about this earlier, but I couldn't figure out how to screen shot the photos on my phone (perhaps it is time to admit that I need to purge some of the photos off of my phone so that I can utilize it to its full potential).  

Anyway, part of his new job is occasionally submitting articles to their magazine.  The first article that he wrote, they were not super excited by.  But the second article - they loved!  And he got published!  

I know that when Jim was the city clerk, people commonly told me how amazing he was (which I already knew).  He was helpful to them, often doing way more than his "job description" said he had to.  He was a very big asset to the city, and to the people in the town.  He was important and he was also comfortable.  He knew his roles, he did what was expected and he didn't really have much in the way of challenges, other than settling neighborhood disputes or the occasional medical issue that was brought to the city rather than people calling the police.  Then he retired, but was not old enough to actually retire.  I knew that whatever new job he got, he would work hard and would become an asset to them as well.  But I also know my Jim  does not adapt easily to new things.  He is a creature of routine and habit.  He has stepped into his new role much as he did his old one.  He has already become known as the guy that will help you.  He has to step into many new cities, and meet with new people and travel around to do it.  Sometimes, I think it is easy to get involved with what you have going on and you only half listen to the things your spouse says or only halfway pay attention to the things they have to do at work.  I am guilty.  This new job has brought with it some challenges for him, but he is meeting them and learning stuff each day.  I am beyond proud of him!  And I know, without a doubt, he will have more articles, more challenges and more days where he has to learn new things.  But I also know that he will do it all with the same willing attitude, great ideas, thoughtfulness and care that he always puts into what he does.  Way to go Jim - you rock!

Some stuffs

I was down at the end of the driveway today, cutting down the Halloween decorations. I realized that my roses are bloomed out and looking gorgeous.  For the second time in 2 summers, they came up, looked amazing and then wilted over and looked dead.  My best guess is that they are catching drift off of the spray from some of the neighboring farmer’s fields.  Weirdly, it is November and this is the best they have looked!  My pots that I painted to match the mailbox are also looking amazing currently. I guess the flowers are as confused as we all are about the weather.  This week it actually feels like fall, but still isn’t overly cold and we haven’t had any frosts yet.  My personal opinion is that it can stay this way all winter and I’d be just fine.  

Saige made the JV quiz bowl team.  She had her first meet this week. They went 2 wins 3 losses in their rounds. She said she got some answers correct and that was the goal for her first meet.  I am proud of her for trying  new things and maybe being out of her comfort zone.  

My fall garden is producing a ton of herbs and peppers.  Jim and I LOVE Philly cheese steak sandwiches.  And we love Peperocini peppers in ours.  I hate the price of a jar of those things, so I set out to grow my own.  They are not easy to find!  I had to order seeds online.  I got them to grow, but the weather was so dry and hot that they never really produced anything.  And then it cooled down and wow!  The plants turned into bushes. I picked the biggest ones off yesterday just to give the branches a break!  I got 35 or 40 peppers off of the 2 plants and they are still loaded!  I’ve never been quite as excited over a pepper plant before.  Now I’m wondering if I can dig them up and keep them indoors for the winter.  Also, I planted some squash plants back in June.  They grew but never really looked very good.  Now?  They are everywhere.  I have little spaghetti squash all over and some butternut squash too.  I’m not sure if they will mature before cold sets in, but I’m excited that I got 1 

Spaghetti squash before they die!  As I have said before, my gardening skills are not as good as they could be, but I am excited about it anyway. One thing I can safely say, I mastered growing herbs!  I have enough basil, oregano, thyme and sage to last for 24 years I think!  Anyone want to learn to make pesto?  Cause I think that is going to be my next project with all this basil.  

Easton loves lights.  They are always sending me videos from the light aisles at various stores. He is infatuated. Nothing like a Christmas tree display for the light lover!  I love this!  

I also love this one of him chilling out with his dad!  Such a funny boy. 

First official meeting with the new 4-H officers.  We mastered the art of thank you note writing and already did our first community service project - this is going to be a very busy year as we have a very motivated group this year!  I am excited about it.   They collected 26 birthday cake kits for the food pantry.  One of my favorite projects.   It always reminds me of when we lived in Osage and there was a rental house next door.  One summer a family moved in. The kids were half kept, always seeming to need something, and always seemed hungry to me.  I fed them snacks just because I could.  One day the girl told me it was her birthday. I asked her what kind of cake she was getting. She hung her head and told me her mom said they couldn’t afford a cake that year.  So I baked her some cupcakes and took them over. She was sooooo excited. I will never forget that little girl’s face when she saw her cupcakes.  I will always strive to teach kids that small things can make a big impact.  

Jim and I joined Costco this week, and I was excited about  the new store they put in Lawrence.  We are trying to make better decisions in the companies we spend money with. Also, I felt some sense of relief at stocking  up on supplies and baking items.  I might be doing too much doom scrolling, but something about other countries telling their people to stock up and the government telling the military to figure out if they can survive without power has made my nerves on edge.  I was thrilled with the results of this week’s election. I know not everyone will agree with me, but I am hoping for some accountability, but even if we don’t get that I would settle for a restoration of sanity, decency, humanity, and empathy.  Fingers crossed we are on a better pathway going forward. I don’t see how it could be much worse than what it has been for the last 2 years.  

 

All Souls’ Day

Mallory and I attended the candlighting ceremony at the cemetery this evening for All Souls’ Day. My parents and sister were also there.  It is a really neat ceremony and I love seeing all the candles lighting up the cemetery.  We can all use more people to pray for us, and it is a privilege to be able to pray for the deceased members of our communities and family.   

Including my brother and grandparents.  I miss them and I pray that we will all be together again some day. 

These two are adorable. This is their All Saints’ Day photo.  I believe they celebrated with attending a volleyball game for Tatum’s little girls team and eating French dip.  Good job on celebrating the good holidays! 

If you ever want proof that Madison married a man like her father, hang out with the two of them together.  It’s a mess.  I’m glad they get along.  But….

I’m not convinced Jim needed an ally.  

We had a good weekend even if I didn’t get my list even started. So much fun and lots of family time.  

 

 

Happy Halloween!

We had a great day here!  I heard from all the kids, hat a great time with my sister and my friend getting a tarot card reading.  And Harper let me help her with a last minute costume where we made her into Medusa.  

We got our 50 cent corn dogs! 

 L

Rescued a turtle 

Had a wrestler man 

Dracula and Doc McStuffins 

Homelander 

Medusa 

The cutest Tigger I have ever seen 

My absolute all time favorite day of the year.  Halloween is happiness.  

33 years

Today is our anniversary.  We have been married 33 years.  When we were in our 20’s, planning a wedding, I knew I wanted a fall wedding.  We picked a date based on when my cousin, who was also getting married that fall was getting married.  I liked the date because it was close to Halloween, which I have always loved.  I never gave a single thought to what our anniversary would always be. We have spent almost every single anniversary making treats for school Halloween parties, gathering costume parts, shopping for trick or treaters, running kids to parties, and today, watching grandkids in their school Halloween parade and handing out candy.  And we wouldn’t change a single thing. 

The last 33 years have flown by.  I don’t know how we got here. Three quarters of our kids are out in the world living on their own. Our grandkids are blessings that we feel so lucky to have in our lives.  We truly are living the dream.  I love you Jim, it hasn’t always been easy, but we have managed to figure it out, together.