Our Garden Revisited

This year Jerry finished the garden boxes. Yesterday we finished planting them. You can't really see down the hillside in these pictures, but we planted 4 blueberry bushes there. I am going to plant watermelons and pumpkins on the ground there, too. I want to plant a few rows of corn, I just need to decide where is the best place. To the left of the boxes we have two rhubarb plants from last year's planting. The miracle rhubarb. Two of four survived after the dump truck driver accidentally dumped an entire load of dirt on them. It took us a few days to dig them out. My favorite thing is that in front of the fence we planted 4 lavender bushes, which will get to be nice and big. I love lavender and all it's uses. I like to weave lavender wands, too. Maybe next year we will have enough to do some of that.

Track Meets

Today I went to Veronica's second track meet. Last week I went to her first one, but had to leave before her event started. Today she did the long jump and ran the 100 meter. She was giving it her all, and was adorable out there with the other 8th graders. Heidi and I tried not to freeze since the wind was blowing directly into the stands. In Oregon, all the sports events are over by the time school is out, when it is just finally getting warmer and the rain is stopping (hopefully). I guess this is so that people can have their whole summer free. In Illinois, where I grew up and where my sister raised her children, when school ends the baseball season is just getting started and they enjoy ballgames well into August. I miss that. Here even the little league baseball is over by the time school is out in June. So that leaves kids open to summer camp, I guess. Well, since it is the way it is, Heidi and I will just have to wear our winter coats and bring blankets, as many others did.

Seminary Thoughts

It's 4:45 a.m. and I am finished with my morning routine which ends by checking the email and looking at the news on the internet. I still have 15 or 20 minutes before I need to leave. Yesterday we had our monthly inservice meeting and, once again, I was teased about coming 5 minutes earlier each year I teach. I guess this is a sign that I've completely adjusted to this early schedule. I love these morning hours of just sitting in the quiet and contemplating. I like the feeling of being ready to stand before my 26 students and hopefully lift them a bit and teach them something new. Teaching seminary is a great calling. I think of all I've had I like it the best. The love I feel for the students is deep, and the concern when they seem to be struggling in life is also deep. They are all so great and have no idea that they are. Today is Friday, and we will do some easier, fun stuff. I am going to show them a video of Gene Kelly dancing on roller skates. It always makes me happy and amazed at his ability. We all have talents, I guess we need to find them.