Such Fun

Thursday and Don is prepping for his planned colonoscopy that happens tomorrow.  Liquid diet or just clear broth and jello.  And you know all the rest.  I need say no more.  He is left with a very clean system.

Friday is spent getting ready to leave, having Rod pick us up, and then being at the office from about 11: 30 until 3:00.  The good part is that all went well, he is in very good shape, and need never go back for another colonoscopy, or so Dr. Nisi says, since in 10 years he will be 87!  How did that happen?

I did put beef/vegetable stew type soup in the crock pot so that lunch/supper was all ready when we arrived home.  We were both very hungry, and supper tasted very good.

Don was tired and went to bed early Friday night.

A Little Town with a Big Fast Train and a Moose

It is Wednesday, and we find ourselves with nothing special on the schedule.

I had read an entry on Matt Rust's Facebook that he and Melissa took the twins to Farmland where they had ice cream cones.  Of course, as they always do, they took an adorable picture of the adorable twins in front of the restaurant called "The Chocolate Moose", famous, I guess, for their ice cream.

Someone had left a comment that they used to work at The Chocolate Moose in Farmland, and that it was famous for the best tenderloin sandwiches EVER.

So Don and I made the trip to Farmland, a little town between Muncie and Winchester.  As a child when we drove to Muncie my brothers and I would drive our parents crazy by saying the names of the little towns in between Anderson and Muncie over and over. " Chesterfield, Daleville, Yorktown, Muncie."  Then we would proceed through the alphabet: "Besterfield, Baleville, Borktown, Buncie."  You get the picture.

On Wednesday I could envision little children driving from Muncie to Portland saying, "Parker City, Farmland, Winchester, Portland."  Over and over through the alphabet.  That was my one deep thought for the day......that is what my mental condition has come to.

Anyway, we drove to Farmland and found this rather charming little town with one main street to which have recently been added rather quaint gas-light type street lamps and a whole line of matching rural -type mail boxes lined up soldier fashion all up and down both sides of the main drag.  But the most astounding thing was the train track that ran smack dab through town crossing this main street.  Three times while we were there, very long freight trains barreled through town going full speed and blasting their horns.  Wow!  Those trains actually rattled the buildings.  That must be something for the folks of Farmland.

We did eat at the "Chocolate Moose."  It is the only restaurant, other than a pizza place, in Farmland.  It has been there forever, I think, but is quite a clean, nice place.  The tenderloin was delicious, and the chef was about my age.  Bless her heart, she had to lean on the counter as she cooked, much like I have to do in my kitchen.  Thank God I don't have to cook in a restaurant.

We completed our little trip with a stop at the one antique store in downtown Farmland, and made some tiny purchases to remind us of a fun day.

Another Fun Doll House Completed

Today I completed the renovations to this little doll house.  It is a doll house designed to be played with by a young child.  I simply repainted the exterior and added the little flower trim.   I did much more finishing work on the interior.

I tried to make the colors bright and cheerful.  The furniture is big and blocky: just right for little hands to play with.

As you can see, there are no little accessories or the small pieces that I usually like to put into houses.  I have just included the main pieces that are just right and safe for the young child.
It has been a very fun house to work on, and I can't wait to give this to the child I have in mind.

Cincinnati-Style Chili and Ovid Hospitality

It is Saturday, and Randy has driven here from Cincinnati to show us his new car, a dark grey Mini Cooper.
Well, he actually drove here from Bloomington, because he visited with Avery before coming on to Anderson.  His car is VERY nice.  It is just the right kind of car for Randy: small for Cincinnati driving, gas efficient, and quite sporty.

As you can see, I failed to get a picture of the car.  But I did get a very nice picture of sporty Randy and his dad.
Debra and Rod fixed a delicious supper of Cincinnati-style chili and spaghetti.  The also had carrot-cake cupcakes for dessert.  Yum.  We really enjoyed a great supper and fun conversation.  They are super host and hostess.

There home is not only beautiful and comfortable, but is quite full of entertainment furnished by the five lively cats that live there.

Of course, my favorite cat is the old lady cat, Missy May.  The two of us work at the same speed.
She is such a sweetie.

We had a super Saturday with all these great people and Cats.

The "Eyes" Have It

Today Don and I drove to Carmel for my eye doctor appointment.  I have been going about every three months lately to keep check on the "leak"  in my left eye.  It has been three months since Dr. Cantor repaired the leak, and the eye is doing fine.  So he said to come back in 4 months this time.

We were hoping for a much longer break because there is major reconstruction being done to all the roads leading to Carmel, and they won't be completed for about 6 months.  Today there was a traffic jam on 69 reported on the news, so we went by way of SR 32 through Noblesville and Westfield.  There was enough pre-construction changes, that, along with the snow/rain, made driving a real challenge.

But, we made it just at my appointment time.  And we still had some time to wait.  Here you see us in the beautiful waiting room.  Dr. Cantor, besides being a wonderful doctor, has a very nice and elegant office.

Wednesdays with the Ladies

Today is the fourth Wednesday of March.  Being the fourth Wednesday means that I went to lunch with the "Menta Girls" at the MCL cafeteria.  We have been meeting on the second and fourth Wednesdays since all of us have been retired.  That has been 19 years for most of us.  And before that, while we were all teaching school, we met at one anothers' home one evening each month.  Sometimes we played cards, sometimes we tried making a craft, but usually we just ate and talked, talked, talked.  Also, laughter has always been a major ingredient in our meetings.  We have met since 1970, and our friendships have been priceless.
For many years we also took a summer getaway trip for a few days:  Hueston Woods, Bear Creek Farms, and then often to Lake Freeman.

A couple of members have now moved away.  Several members have passed away.  After all, we are getting up there in age.  Most of us deal with the challenges of old age.  But, no matter, having good and constant friendships has always helped us face whatever is happening in our lives.

On Wednesday there were 14 of us present, 15 if you count Shirley Tenple.  Alfreda brought one of her five beautiful porcelain dolls to show us.  She was quite the hit.  Everyone at MCL stopped at our table to see her.  The noise level at MCL goes up when our ladies are there.  As you can see, we love a good gab fest.
Thanks, ladies, for being such good and faithful friends.

Oh the Excitement....March Madness!

Just how tired I am waiting for spring, sunshine, and warm weather, is reflected in my reluctance to record anything in this journal.  This has been a rather long week with nothing much happening of any import.

Well, Don might disagree with this.  Wednesday he met with Chuck and Rog

er at Hoosier Park as they do most Wednesdays.  At least, Chuck and Don meet most Wednesdays and invest their $20.00 in guessing which horse will win what race.  Last Wednesday Roger joined them.  I understand that the three might have won a total of $1.30 or something.  But, I am assured that many laughs were shared.

While the men did their thing, Ginny and I went shopping, all second hand.  She was looking for tea cups and saucers to use for decorations and favors at their women's tea at church.  I was just seeing what was there.
I filled my cart and spent $19.00 on miscellaneous.  She did find some cups and saucers.  Then we went to the Two Sisters clothing store in Pendleton.  There she spent more money than did I.  It was a great afternoon, but I have spent the rest of the week letting my sore knees and hip recover from all that shopping.

For the last four days nothing has happened at our house but BASKETBALL, BASKETBALL BASKETBALL.  They started out with 64 teams in the NCAA tourney, and they are down to 16,
If my math is right Don has watched 24 basketball games in the last 4 days.  But, oh wait, I forgot to count in the pro ball, the NIT, and the high school tourney games, and I think there were some girls games in there,too.

I don't sit and watch.  I just do my own little household things and occasionally ask for scores and short recaps.  I did paint the whole exterior of a house, however.  But before we get too excited, the house is a doll house that measures about 12" by 14".  It is very cute and I am sprucing it up to give to a wee friend.