snickerooter

While looking for the snickerooter Tom found a 6ft long black snake with a yellow stripe down its back. Harmless. It's not the creature we are hearing. The only snake that makes a sound is a rattler. It may be an alien. It does have tiny green eyes. It's less afraid of us now so I was able to get all the way to the pond and just stand there in the dark and watch and listen. Then Tom found this snake and I decided to stop going out there. We were able to find similar sounds of animals on the internet and it maybe a prairie dog. Not so scary now it just seems cute. It will probably remain one of the great mysteries. All of this going on in our own backyard, who needs tv?

the Jacob fan club

I've come up with a name for the book Elevator Boy
Today we went to the court house to ride the elevator. Jacob was thrilled. It still doesn't beat the elevator that goes to Dr. Stewerts office but, it was pretty a good second. We went up to the third floor and we skipped and laughed our way through the halls of justice. Then left without a trace.

nature lovers

Question?????? There is a strange animal or bird making nightly visits to our back yard. We here it but a flash light and search through the yard has failed to reveal what it is. It is eating a cantaloupe that it took off of one one our plants. It makes a wierd sound like something from Jurassic Park. The one that ate the guy that stole the embryos. It kind roots around like a pig, makes sucking noises and then, and heres the tricky part, it sounds like it's laughing ( creepy). Tom thought it was a bird. One of Matthews' friends thinks it's a fox. Running around the yard with a flash light only silences it for a time. It doesn't run away or attack (yet) but hides. When we sit down and be quiet it starts up again. Anybody know what this could be? We are going to try and get a recording of it.

the Jacob fan club

Yesterday we visited the post office and went up that elevator. It is old. Jacob hung on to my hand for dear life. He was excited though. However when we left he said he didn't like that dumb elevator. So were off to find a really great elevator.

the Jacob fan club

Well time goes fast these days. Jacob and I are still on the hunt for elevators. Friday we went to King Hall. We actually passed by the elevator several times before realizing it. It's pretty inconspicuous. lol We went up to the second floor hopped down the stairs all the way to the basement then took the elevator back up to first. We then walked through the art gallery for up and coming artists. The paintings didn't seem to be much different then the one Jacob had in his bookbag that he had done and was bringing home to his parents. I asked Jacob what he thought of one of the paintings. He thaought it looked like a turtle on it's belly. On closer inspection of one particular piece of art you could see toes and if you followed the line it went down to a head. I thought maybe they hung it upside down or maybe it is an unborn baby. Isn't art something?

wish you were here

Katie it would have been great to have you with us yesterday. Jacob and I went to Plumb Hall and took the elevator to the 4th floor. We tried to look out the window but alas the south side was locked up and the north side was a view of the roof. Jacob was not too impressed with that. He did talk to a lady who was on the elevator when we got on. We couldn't make out what he was saying but, she was smiling and thought he was cute and he was. The rotunda has changed sadly. The balcony that you look down from was gone now it's just a big tiled circle.I was kind of afraid to walk across it. I thought it would have been neat for Jacob to see but now it's just a memory. I thought about your dance recitals and going for ice cream at PJ's or Dairy Queen both are gone now too. Time marches on. Well I think it would be cool if you got a job at ESU. Emporia on the othe hand would be dull compared to Wichita. I liked Wichita. Matthew was born there. I thought the hospital was great. Well stay safe and as your great grandpa use to say, " see you in the funny papers."

Meal Planning

The other day I found a spiral notebook full of menus and recipes which was published by the American Diabetes Association. The name of the book is Month of Meals. I told Ellen about it on Sunday. It turns out she is the one who gave it to me, ... a long time ago. I am finally using it now Ellen, and I really like it. I now understand how to use it, thanks in part to the diabetes management class Doug and I took in Wichita. The menus, which include 3 meals a day for 30 days, are written for 1200, 1500 and 1800 calorie diets. Yes, rest assured, if you are diagnosed then you will be counting calories. That is no big deal if someone shows you the easy way to do it. The dietitian in Wichita did just that.

I have used some of the recipes from the notebook and they turned out well. The ones I have used are vegetarian. I made a lentil loaf, which is similar to a meat loaf. I did not serve it to Doug because he doesn't like meat loaf. I liked it, however, and I will make it often for me. I did make black bean soup for both of us. Doug liked it, in fact, it is what's for supper tonight. The next recipe I want to try is cauliflower cheese soup. A recipe for stuffed vegetarian peppers also caught my eye.

Most of the recipes are not vegetarian. I might make chicken ratatouille for Doug sometime. That dish has zucchini, mushrooms and eggplant in it. For breakfast, Doug can have creamed chipped beef over toast. I thought that would be off limits. Not so, but portion control is important no matter what is served. The dietitian said that only solid protein counts for a diabetic, not liquid protein. Therefore, Doug can not count a glass of milk for breakfast as a protein. He must have an egg, bacon or some other solid protein plus a couple of carbs.

Doug and I have stuck to the plans our dietitian designed for us when we were in Wichita. It has not been too difficult yet. I am on a 1200 calorie diet. You would think the pounds would fall off of me. So far I have lost half a pound. I feel good though. I guess that is the important thing.

I am glad that I discovered the Month of Menus Ellen gave us. It has helped me to plan meals and shop for groceries. Thanks Ellen. I am also happy that we attended the class in Wichita. I think Doug and I are both healthier because we went.

the Jacob fan club

Jacob does seem to like school. When I pick him up at 3:30 and ask, " did you learn anything?" he says, "yes! Something good and special. " We've been going to different places to ride the elevator up and down, at his request. We've been to the library, the bank and the medical arts building. We go to one place each day. Today we may go to Plumb Hall. Jacob really looks forward to it, I call it our after school activity. I hope it helps him to relax and to do something he would like to do. I bring him something cold to drink because they are outside playing from 3 to 3:30 and he was so red in the face and so hot the first time I picked him up, I want to make sure he is getting enough to drink before we go on our activity. Jacob is very easy to hang out with. He follows directions and holds my hand and he never makes a fuss and he is always glad to see people. He is friendly and likes to talk. He has a little friend who's name is Edward. They sit next to each other in class. I met his mom the other day she teaches at another school in town. Beth and Peter go over to their house and the kids play together. So it's worked out nicely for the boy to have each other to talk to. While will keep you posted on our big adventures.

The Inn on Downing Road

Well the blog has been a bit quiet lately so I thought I would jump in and get the ball rolling again. I know that Katie is busy with her new life in Wichita. Beth is busy getting Jacob going on his new education path. Andy too is starting a new education and career path. I am starting to see pattern here. The rest of us are trudging along I think.

I will share a bit of what life has been like for us the past few weeks and that will get the momentum for others to share their stories, hint hint.

Well it all started in July when I was on my way to work, just your average hot Wednesday morning. Anyway in the road I saw this beagle dog just wandering around in the road looking lost and confused, so I stopped. She was whimpering hesitant to come to me but finally did. I called John and told him what was happening. He was like "and you want me to do what?" So I told him to come, which he did bringing a leash, collar, and dog food. We got her in the truck and he took her home. I went to work---as luck would have it my first client didn't show up and didn't call. Anyway John called me a few hours later. He said he had to give her a bath(they were both thrilled). She smelled like the creek and she was infested with ticks. He said the inside of her ears were coated and it was the most disgusting thing he ever saw. Well we pulled 62 ticks off her head and back just in one sitting and that was after the bath. The ears had to be treated to kill the ticks. We called vets, posted her on a lost/found dog website, called rescue groups and put up found dog fliers, no responses. We finally took her to the vet, got her checked for heart worms, vaccinated and spayed. She lives in the basement and is pretty quiet. We have to walk her as she is small and can fit through the pickets of our vinyl fence. Ok surely we can deal with finding a home for one small beagle...oh if only it was only one small beagle.
On Tuesday morning John went for his morning walk up 188th Street when out of nowhere appears this dog, jumping at him and dancing around as if to say"look at me, look at me. I've been waiting for you Alpha John." Well John ignored him and continued on his way hoping the dog would lose interest and go on his merry way,no such luck. Finally John gave up and returned home, unfortunately with Loco Puppy, as we call him, happily following. Well this guy just made himself at home in the backyard on the lower patio by the doors to John's workshop. We thought once again that if we ignored him he would continue on his "walk about" and that would be that, but no he stayed. So John had to build a pen for him in one of the open sheds and now our day consists of putting Loco Puppy in the shed, let Annie and Jack out in their yard, bring Annie and Jack in, walk Trixie, bring Trixie in, let Loco Puppy out to be a free dog. That is life at The Inn on Downing Road, aka The Zoo. So what is new with the rest of you?

Getting Older

One morning last week we had a hard rain. A friend and I had to attend a meeting at the Sternberg Museum here in Hays that morning. We got soaked getting into the car. It was difficult to drive because visibility was poor. I made a left turn and we were suddenly in deep water. The water rose over my tires. I had to keep going because there was a car behind me. Fortunately, after a couple of blocks I turned right and pulled into the parking lot. The rain stopped. I locked the car and my friend and I entered the Sternberg. We were cold and wet, but ok. After the meeting, I could not unlock the car. My keys would not work. I had to call a locksmith to unlock my car. He thought excess moisture may have shorted out the lock system. The locksmith refused to take any money for his efforts. He said,"It's raining and I'm happy to help."

Today, exactly one week later, I locked my keys in the car after returning home from running errands. Imagine my embarrassment when I had to explain to the locksmith that I needed his help again. He cheerfully came and unlocked my car, even though a hot sun was shining down, and he had to struggle to get a car door open. But the locksmith prevailed. I breathed a sigh of relief and paid him. I can drive again!!! But a moment's inattention cost me money. And I have the feeling that I am getting older and more forgetful. Not a good feeling. But I guess I'll survive. The rest of the day was loverly. I still have a little sinking feeling in my stomach, though. Am I really getting old? Maybe I'm just hungry. That's it. I'm just hungry. Carry on.

Surprises can be good

Well to quote Sister Honor "Surprises can be good." I didn't know that I had such a sneaky and clever family. You all really managed to pull off a great event. I have to say first of all that you shouldn't have. We just had a big family gathering and to ask people to do it all over again so soon was a lot to ask, especially for the out of towners and the hoster. You all put so much hard work into it, with the planning, shopping and endless cooking---unbelievable. It was amazing. Beth the hummus was very very good. You are forever in charge of bringing hummus. Ellen the baklava, well what can I say, you could open a baklava bakery when you retire, special orders only. Carol, the sugar cookies were tremendous. You really out did yourself and it sounds like Tom and Matthew will be happy to never see another sugar cookie again. Thank you too for the cherry pie, I think the sisters missed their calling, a tea room or something food related surely is in the stars. The chicken was excellent. It has been at least 20 years since I had Mom's chicken. Thank you Sharon and Honor for all that work. You did Mom proud. Once again I have to say that my favorite gift in the world was the original poems and stories my family created. You guys are all so talented. Sharon you have been hiding your writing talents under a bushel. Beth don't forget to e-mail me your poem and I will print it and put it in the folder. That really was such a wonderful thoughtful gift and very unexpected. Ellen, thank you for the grapefruit scented candle. It is very fragrant and I look forward to enjoying it soon. The roses are beautiful and very fragrant. I have never rcvd a dozen red roses in my life. I think John gave me three yellow roses once when we were dating and once when I was sick he gave me a grocery store bouquet, but that is the extent of my receiving flowers in my 50 years.
So 50 years has started with my very first surprise birthday party and my first dozen of red roses. You all better start planning my 60th now. It might take 10 years to top this one. Thank you all again for all that hard work and thanks to everyone who traveled to Sharon's to particpate. Surprises can be good. Love to all.

PS: Katie it won't be much longer and you will be able to join us for family events more frequently. It will be great to have all the kids close again.

Down, down, down

Hi, all. We significantly reduced our list price on the house last week in the hopes of generating some interest (and staying competitive with other houses that keep dropping their prices). I think we're as low as we can go now. Say some prayers that we'll get some buyers in the door. So far, so slow.

My official move date: July 28 (our ten-year anniversary). I'm looking forward to building our lives back in Kansas, and I'm also hoping we can eventually make a clean break from Georgia by selling our home.

On a higher note (pun intended) ... I sang a duet in church today. I've never done a solo before, and I'd never done a duet before today. I and another woman from the choir sang "In Flanders Fields." And I didn't screw it up! She sang the soprano part, and I sang alto, and I think we did the song justice.