Thanksgiving 2020

 

I've loved reading everyone's thankful posts on facebook this year. 

Our Dollar Shave Club newsletter had an article about gratitude and how good it is for our brain ~ for our physical and mental well-being. It actually makes your brain grow! It relaxes you and increases serotonin, the happiness chemical. 

I love it when God tells us to be thankful, and then we find out how good it is for us! 

Jon's been practicing "Ashokan Farewell" to play for us on Thanksgiving. He does really well picking up music by ear. 

Alec (stationed here in San Antonio in the Navy ~ friend from Seattle area) came over for dinner. He brought the turkey and stuffing. Perfectly cooked turkey too! 

Here he's convincing Jonathan to take a bite of his stuffing. 

Jon finally did. Alec eventually got all the kids to take a bite. 

Phillip working on an app idea. He's so creative. He keeps going too, until he has a good product. Our family sure is loving the homeschool planning app. And our customer base for Flexible Homeschool App keeps growing. 

I went through the house after dinner and found each kid doing something off alone (except for Jon ~ he was playing chess with Alec). Liz had her hair up in knots of purple dye, so I didn't post her pic. Harrison has found that he loves his closet lately. He listens to the Penderwicks and draws. He's on the fourth book of the Penderwick series and this is a sad one, he tells me. So he listens in his closet. 

Phoebe diligently working away at a sewing project. She's into hand sewing lately. These girls do this wonderful handwork and then rip up so much of it to start over when it isn't perfect! I'm impressed with their work though. 

The most fruits and vegetables I've fixed for one meal, I believe. Cornbread casserole (it has corn in it!), cranberry sauce, cooked apples, lettuce salad, sweet potato soufflé, lemon-pepper green beans, and kale/Swiss chard soufflé. 

My dad's serving dish was perfect for the rolls. 

Alec re-enlisted with the Navy this week. He had the ceremony up on the hill near our house, and we were glad to be there. Quite a few other buddies showed up too. 

Congratulations, Alec! 

To Missouri to Haul Home a Liz

 A flight over to MO to help Liz drive back home from college. 

Flying is scary. We could quickly tell it would be an iffy proposition for our flight to land on time. Planes are claustrophobic in normal times, how much more so when forced to wear a mask. My heart was pounding from nervousness, from claustrophobia, from fear. 

We land late. All of us rush around the Dallas airport. Hopes are up as we rush to another gate. Hopes are dashed. Hopes back up as a random stewardess hears me say Joplin and tells me there's a flight with empty seats. That had not been offered as a solution ~ that flight was not even on the airport reader board. Hopes back up. Arrive and gate area is empty. Dashed. Finally find someone to help me and they are able to get me on the plane. Not much ruined except for a couple of hours of worry and rushing around and poor Aunt Kristy waiting at Springfield airport for me, only to finally find out that I would not be arriving there. (Sorry, Kristy! But thank you so much for being there for me anyway.) 

Back on another plane. It's dark. More stars visible than from our city. Fear is back. I'm alone in my row, so I lower my mask and face the window to look at the stars. I'm no good in an emergency. What do I do if the plane goes down? I ask God for safety. But planes go down surely while others ask for safety. Where is God in that pain? Where is He with this fear? I have firm answers and many CS Lewis quotes when my feet are planted firmly on the ground. But they are not here in the airplane.

Liz is there to pick me up from Joplin airport. It's only 10 minutes from the college! OCC has a hospitality room available for me. It's warm and clean and inviting. Such a welcome relief. 

The next morning my front door scene is this ~ rainy woods, squirrels chattering, leaves twirling on bare branches. It's a balm to my soul.

I read a chapter from Job. Satan tells God that Job of course worships Him because of the hedge God has placed around him. Who wouldn't worship God when everything is going great? And of course, there is a bit of an answer to my fear. Will I only worship God when things go well for me? Will I not praise Him in pain and fear? I hope that I will. I want to.

Liz is back home. We are all here safe and sound. 

And I thank God.

Louisiana 2020

We visited my mom and dad in Louisiana this past weekend. We left at 4:30 Saturday morning and had a smooth ride all the way. No traffic. Lots of construction taking place around Houston and Beaumont, but not on a Saturday morning, so we skated right by. 

Have I mentioned the Weirdness of Houston Traffic?  The speed limit is 60, but there are a scattered handful of cars going 55 and everyone else is going anywhere between 70-95 mph? I think when there is actual traffic, the 60 mph is probably observed. But not on a Saturday morning with open lanes. 

There is a lot of evidence of the hurricanes that devastated Lake Charles. Lots of blue tarp on roofs. Lots of downed trees. Smashed windows and signage. 

The tall, scary bridge is still there. I suppose (hope..... pray.....) they inspected it and deemed it traffic-worthy. We went over it at any rate. Jonathan was driving on the way back and he drove over it without a problem. 

We met my parents at the Jennings Park, same as always. And what a special treat! They were holding a Cajun music jam session in the Gator Chateau. Three or four accordions, fiddles, triangle. It was very special to listen with the kids and my parents. My mom reminisced about Momo loving this music, loving to dance. 

Phoebe, Harrison, and Egret over Lake

We all held baby alligators. Except for Nana. 

And then we got some Community Coffee and listened to the Cajun music some more. 

My mom made delicious spaghetti for lunch. Then we went to Lafayette to an art museum. We wanted to visit a Plantation, but the closest one we could find (about an hour away) only had the grounds open for tour. The inside of the house wasn't open because of Covid. So we'll save that for another time. I found the art museum instead.

It was a beautiful building. A replica plantation home right next to a modern glass building. A lively waterfall feature where lots of photos were being taken. Families all in red for Christmas cards. Friend groups and graduation photos following a university graduation nearby. 

I do recommend most of the museum. There was a room featuring brown cotton and weaving passed down through several Cajun families. We had never heard of brown cotton, so this was new to all of us, even my mom. 

Another room featured pictures of the bridges spanning the Mississippi River. I guess it's only on display until next April. This was special because there are several familiar Missouri bridges featured ~ the Eads bridge in St. Louis (my kids love this one from watching "The Men Who Built America") and the one going across at Louisiana, MO which isn't too far from Vandalia.

Some of the other display rooms were more modern. We've been reading about modern art in Dawn to Decadence by Jacques Barzun.  It's eye-opening to see it in real life. Distorted, dissected and reattached unnaturally, throwing out of tradition and previous techniques, personally interpreted, foundations shaken, trying to figure out life when everything has been thrown out ..... 

The plantation replica was so beautiful on the outside. It housed University student artwork. It certainly gave my kids a special kind of education about these modern times. We rushed through it and left hurriedly. It was too bad they hadn't decorated it like a plantation home. I wouldn't recommend anyone with children touring the current art displays in the plantation.

Aupa took us out for ice cream. Can't sit inside, of course. Tailgating is more fun anyway!

Lafayette asked us to put on masks both places we went inside. Crowley did not. They had signs on their doors, but half the people in Crowley didn't wear masks, and we do not if we can help it. There was a nice professional sign in a bathroom with a little footnote that said, "If you are healthy, the CDC does not recommend buying or using face masks." Hmmm. Current society wouldn't have you think so. 

At the LeBlanc's house. 

Harrison likes their little doggy. Jon said that of the people we visited, Mr. Nelton sounds the most like a Cajun.

Aupa has been busy Making. 

He made Phoebe the sewing bowl out of mahogany. He gave us a resin coaster with turkey spurs from turkeys he shot this year. And he made us a special serving dish. The bottom part is made of Poplar. The middle stand part is made of Black Walnut. The top bowl is made of Koa from Hawaii. I write all this down here because I will forget it; I can come back here later to read what kind of woods they are.

And we got to attend live church services this Sunday. First time for most of us since March. Victor Knowles was there from Joplin, MO, preaching on Unity. We went to see Teressa's new house that she just moved into last week. We went to Mrs. Aline's for a down-home gumbo lunch (yes!) and conversation. We started for home by 3:00. It's always a whirlwind when we visit LA. So fun. And so nice to be home.

It was good to see you, Mom and Dad!  

 

Awesome Autumn Weather

This is the best, Texas! Keep it coming! We have cool mornings and evenings, but it warms up to about 80 during the day. Perfect. We have lovely leaves falling, today we had a cloudy day which makes it feel more cozy. I'm loving it.

Liz' 10-year-old depiction of us.

I found this drawing of Elizabeth's in a school box I was going through. She kind of nailed it. I believe I have curlers in my hair and am brushing my teeth. Jon has a Lego piece in his hand.

Harrison as Wounded Man.

We studied Gustave Courbet as our artist this past term. The kids chose The Wounded Man as the painting to recreate. Phoebe was in charge of wardrobe. Jonathan was the tree. 

The Wounded Man by Gustave Courbet

Party time!

One of the boys in the neighborhood had a birthday party and they had a bounce house up for 6 or 7 hours. And all the kids were in there for about ...... 6 or 7 hours! They had a blast.

I skated another long section of Salado Creek Greenway on Saturday. It was longer than I expected. I think I skated 14 miles. But I wanted to finish off the northern part of the trail, so I kept going until I got to the end. Now I can work my way from McAllister Park on down. 

There are people scaling those cliffs! 

I didn't expect to see this in the city. But apparently you can reach it by Trail. 

I saw a coyote cross my trail, and here, I barely caught a buck crossing the trail. I saw a lot of deer on this stretch. 

I had to get a picture of some leaves in the neighborhood. 

I love the smell of slightly damp leaves. I love the sound of them falling. The sound of them dry and rustling on the tree limbs. Autumn makes me happy. Enjoy it!

 

Covid-ween

What a weird year this has been. 

We had lots of Halloween and yet, a subdued Halloween. 

Jon made this awesome creepy guy. Full of expression. 

He makes me laugh and feel sorry for him at the same time. 

The church down the road held a Trunk or Treat. I'm so glad to be able to invite the neighbor kids to a church event that's close by. They enjoyed the worship music too. Our church also held a trunk or treat, but we were gone that Sunday (camping). 

We also showed up at Liam's house to see how their candy chute worked. And also to get some candy. :-) 

They did a great job with it! They used a blower from a small bounce house and some pipe, and it did a fun job of getting candy from their door to the sidewalk. 

And Harrison's friend next door invited him to his dojo's trunk or treat. Harrison is a Banana Sheriff this year. I can't believe he's still wearing that banana. 

Phoebe passed out candy and Jonathan took Harrison and Entourage trick or treating. 

I went out to the main road to pass out the rest of our candy since no one comes down our cul-de-sac once all the neighbor kids go trick or treating. And it was kind of sad and dead. Far fewer homes passing out candy. Not as many cars parked on the street (we're usually a pretty hopping place for Halloween). I listened to the cicadas until my bag was almost empty. 

The kids had fun. We have plenty of candy for the family (Harrison picked out his favorites and now it's a grab bag for all of us). The kids make things fun even if the world is crazy right now. 

Dad and Jon have been resurrecting our yard. They broke up the hard dirt and planted grass. I get to see to the watering. Some grass has already grown from a previous seeding. Can't wait to see a nice green front yard!