LUDKE-ville 2/27/09

(Some of you who aren’t normally bothered with it, are getting this edition of Ludke-ville, but I wanted to share our good news all around.

We’re only a teensy bit excited and happy, you see!)

Hello Friends and Family –

As most of you know this has been an especially exciting week in our family. Randy and I became Gr'ma & Gr'pa. We're still trying on 'names' – Mark’s wife Bellie suggested the Tagalog (language from the Philippines) - Lo-La (grandma) and Lo-Lo (grandpa). Often they say Mommy La or Daddy Lo. I'm trying on Gram(me) (I always sign the kid's notes with Mom(me). They won't call me Mommy anymore, go figure!

The excitement began last Friday evening when we received a text msg. from Rhiannon wondering about if we'd like a Valentine Baby. So we were excited. First thing Randy said on Sabbath a.m. was "I thought we were getting a baby last night".

We drove up to Iowa City on Sunday because we needed/wanted to check on something in one of the stores up there. The puppies (all four) played at Ryan and Rhiannon's while we ran our errands. Still no baby that day.

Finally on Tuesday afternoon Jaimee arrived. I feel kind of ashamed that we rushed up so soon - and didn't give the kids a lot of chance to get acclimated. Our first view of this little dolly was when she was four hours old. It was a fun time for Nick, Randy and I. As we drove away from our visit at the hospital both of my guys commented that they thought she was awfully cute.

My sweet sister Joy hauled me up with her the next day. So I actually got to visit Jaimee two days in a row. She had just had her first bath and was in some soft little green jammies. The "I've just been squeezed out" swelling had gone down and she looked even more adorable, if possible. Gail and her family had been up to see Ryan, Rhiannon and Jaimee a little before we got there on that day.

It was fun to spend time with Joy and her kids and Brit (a sweet little gal that is with them often!) I really appreciated that they let me ride along with them. I know the kids were squished in the back seat where they wouldn't have been had I not tagged along. Until I have my doctor's appointment on Thursday for my eye - I can't wear my contacts. I don't really have any decent glasses - so driving at night would not have been a really great idea for me to do!

Needless to say that knowing there was a sweet baby just 45 minutes away was really hard on Thursday and Friday ... life goes on in spite of more 'fun' things like new babies. So we didn't see them again until yesterday.

Nick brought their dogs back here with him on Tuesday, so we had lots of canine company for a day and a 1/2 - he took them back on Thursday I think it was. The puppies are growing every day. Tidus is the BIG puppy. This is the one that Nick has. He is going to be a really stout dog. The father of the pups was a substantial looking Shiba-Inu; whereas, Rooney is a smaller dog.

On Thursday I took part in something kind of fun. It was called a shoebox swap. There were 8 of us there. We had each prepared one (greeting) card "kit". The object of the evening was that we would change stations every 15 minutes and during the 15 minutes we would create the card at the station we were at. The pace seemed quick; it was nice to leave with several cards that we had made ourselves. AND it wasn't all that burdensome to prepare just one card for the evening.

Sabbath was WAY fun. I loved every minute of it. The kids had planned to come so Jaimee could go to church for the first time here. They are such a proud mommy and daddy and of course Jaimee had her cute little purple corduroy jumper and blouse set that Rhiannon had got when they were on a trip to Tennessee or somewhere. Naturally Jaimee needed to wear that on her first Sabbath of life. She was very good in church and everyone thought she was lovely.

My brother Mark was at church so I invited him to come eat lunch with us. I hadn't planned anything much - Big Franks, Redi-burger, real hamburgers, a casserole and some baked fries. For dessert I finally made poor Nicky a cake for his birthday. His favorite is white cake with strawberry frosting. I had some sliced strawberries on top. PLUS we had chocolate almond ice cream (you HAVE to have chocolate for dessert, right?) Mark didn't come right away because he had to pick Bellie up from work. Then they came and spent the afternoon with us until we had to go to a meeting at church. It was great.

Ryan got a nap and later Rhiannon laid down for an hour or so. She is kept pretty busy feeding and changing the baby. For a time it seemed like about as soon as went in the top, it came out the (ever so cute) bottom. THREE little dirty diapers in a short time.

Anyway - it was a really great day having everyone there. I wish we could do that EVERY day.

Today I have spent the day getting ready for our Tuesday night stamping class that myself and a friend are doing for a church sponsored event in the community. Takes a long time (for me) to come up with an idea, and then execute cutting all the pieces for 20 people. For the most part mine are done. I worked on a couple of scrapbook pages after that. Not terribly pleased with my results on this set of pages. So put it aside so I could come back later and maybe have some fresher ideas. I'm FREEZING - the floor down here in the basement is cold - so maybe the cold has crept up my body to my head and that is why my creativity has been hampered now! *LOL*

Tomorrow I go back to the dentist. I had quite a bit of work to do, I really like this dentist (as much as I can possibly like a dentist) he doesn’t seem bent on getting every last $$ out of you AND he is fast at what he does. I like that. Nothing worse than extending your torture for a longer time than necessary.

Thursday I finally get to go to the ophthalmologist for my eye. I have a cataract and it is driving me nuts. My optometrist said it was a fast growing one. I’m not sure about that, but at any rate it is there and I want it GONE. I’m so sick of not being able to see well. I’ve not been able to wear any correction because want my eyes to be ‘normal’ when they look at them. Two LONG weeks …

Nick seems to be enjoying his job at the club except for the long drive each day. He comes home in a good mood each day which I take as a great sign of being content and happy!

Randy keeps our furnace going (ah the joys of corn!) and the puppies taken out and computers running. And he told me he is NOT PREJUDICE, but thinks Jaimee Rae is one of the prettiest babies he’s ever seen! *smile* I think he likes her.

This web page most of you have seen, but just in case … it’s our baby! I put the pictures from Sabbath on it – so it’s as up-to-date as I have memories to update it with!
http://www.vondasvine.com/photo/jaimee.htm

Gotta run – it’s getting bedtime. I need to put the clean sheets on the bed and get a shower before I can retire.

Hope to hear from you all soon. Thanks Deb for calling – was good to talk to you. I see I have a message that must have come in while I was in the basement, from Gloria. Sorry to have missed the call!

Nighty night all!
Gram(me) V

Ludke-ville 2/26/09

Just getting home from work at 8:30 pm -- for every action there is a REACTION – but more on that later!

First, HUGE congrats to Debbie Ludke Bauleke – PUBLISHED AUTHOR!! I think that is amazing that your article was accepted for publication. Do you know what edition it will be in? (Being published in a middle school teacher publication – “Middle Ground”.) Kudos!

And the nice pen Gary gave you sounds great too! As someone who can literally get lost in the pen aisle of my local office stores … current favorite pen is Office Max’s FORAY 0.7 in BLUE ink… that sounds like a wonderful gift! Rhiannon knows what I mean. You can’t have too many good writing utensils (other office supplies too!)

There are two things in my life that I would have liked to be … don’t laugh (some of you wish you’d been astronauts or something like that – you KNOW I’m right) – but I would LOVE to have been a motivational speaker and/or published author (expert in some field). So I’m extremely happy for you!

Cousin Kathy I love FRENCH! I took it in 9th grade (elementary French I know) – but I can still hear the French national anthem in my head from time to time! I thought Jaime meant “to love” – but I’m sure you have it closer with “I love!” Anyway I loved taking that class. Actually that teacher was “so mean” – but when I look back at all of my teachers I loved HER classes the best … Miss Keith! She had a literary side to her that appealed to me, tho I didn’t know it at the time.

And to the Petersons – SO glad to hear Kirk is working again. What a relief for you all. This economy is so tenuous! And also on the discovery that your little one is going to be a GIRL!! Think of all the recycling of little girl things that you are going to get to do!! Got a name chosen yet? ½ way there!

Okay – for every action there is a REACTION? As I listened to the radio at work early in the week – they talked about what a beautiful day Wednesday was going to be. Sunny. Warm. With a winter storm possible on Thursday or Friday. So – all of a sudden I decided that I was going to take off work and drive to Coralville to see my little pink sweetie!

It’s end of the month and there are absolutely TOO many things on my “to-do” list for work and in our church lives, etc. But that little girl is only going to be a newborn for a short time and those other things are always going to be there. So I decided I’d just have to stay late on Thursday night – and so that is why I was there until 8:30 pm tonight. (Very worthwhile trade, if you ask me!)

www.vondasvine.com/photo/jaimee.htm Here is my recording of that superb day!

I went today to have my eye exam by the surgeon. Yep – I have a cataract. A fast growing type that is “not uncommon in a younger person” (he DID TO say ‘younger person’, quit laughing!). I am on his surgery schedule for March 18. Still can’t wear my contacts for a few weeks as they want to do some monitoring of my eyes in another week and then another week – just to see if it is changing or something. I dunno!

Sounds like they can really make my eyes almost ‘perfect’ if I wanted to do that. I wish I could –but when they said “discuss a payment plan” for the part the insurance doesn’t cover … well, like I said earlier “the economy is tenuous” – and this is NOT the time that I can figure out how to work a “payment plan” into the mix. So I’ll take the basic whatever the insurance pays for and be thankful for it! (And believe me – I AM thankful for it!)

I also have a cataract on my other eye – but right now they will concentrate on the one that bothers me. (And believe me – it DOES!)

I have a project to cut with my vinyl cutter. A really super nice guy at work asked for and got my help last year when he made a cornhole game set for an auction for his community (Wapello/Louisa County). I helped him by cutting vinyl lettering for it. When he was doing it last year he was doing it at the very last minute. I told him I’d be glad to help in the future, but he HAD to tell me sooner. So here he comes on Tuesday I think – with another project In mind. Clocks this year.

He thinks I’m the craft wizard – and so this week we’ve designed and printed and discussed and fussed – because the auction is THIS WEEKEND. When he finally knew what he needed in vinyl for it – it turned out I had to do it last night. It all went well except when I got it to work this morning I realized that part of it was cut from the wrong color. Oh brother. I had hoped to cut the replacement pieces during my lunch time today. But my dr. appt. took way to long – so I had to do it tonight. I will AGAIN tell him “next year … EARLIER”. *LOL* I didn’t really have time for him or his project, but he is a really nice guy!

Keep in touch all – remember to thank God for every little thing – MUCH LOVE to all! One of the greatest blessings of life is our family (and friends who are in a way – family). I think I was talking with my brother Mark last week (might not have been him – tho I think it was) and we talked about how you always love your family. Maybe not LIKE them always so much, but always come back to the love part. I look at our baby and I know each of you have had a tiny person at one point or another to say “ahhh” at. God is good to give us a lesson in how much HE loves US. I’m so glad. I know Jesus is coming soon and what a happy day that will be!

V

LUDKE-ville 2/2/09

There was a Work Bee at the church school to help with the refurbishing following the flood in December. I didn’t go. I feel guilty, but we had so much to do here that we could not justify NOT doing it.

A few weeks ago I started to re-paint the family room back to a “family room” look instead of a “hippie mom” hang out. (In other words – dots are gone.) However, with puppies taking up 1/3 to ½ of the room, it was stupid to even start the project. It was impossible to move things around to get to the walls. I gave it up for awhile.

Now the puppies, except for Nick’s little Tidas, are gone. So with all their confinement area taken down and being able to move furniture back to its rightful positions I got the paint on the walls.

I know tomorrow when the light is better (it was late in the day when I was finishing) I’ll see spots that need touching up. Plus I know I got some on the ceiling and that will have to be trimmed out in white. But now instead of my room being dots, it is milk chocolate brown. Nick calls it “poop” – regardless of what you call it, it is like the room sighed a HUGE sigh of relief as it calmed down. It looks less cluttered and busy and much more restful to the eye. I like it so much better.

Still need to hang my Brian Andreas pictures on the wall and put up my Brian Andreas wall words … another Sunday project probably! I have to put up FIVE pictures in a straight line. That’s going to take some concentration on someone’s part … Randy????

The dots were fun, and I thought they were pretty neat looking (bragging a bit, I guess!) but not for me for the long run. I had to many conflicting styles. Maybe if I’d been able to replace the furniture to a more contemporary look it would have been better. The furniture tho – has to stay, so the dots had to go.

Randy worked on cars today. Several things needing done and attention. I think he did some stuff with the corn thing too – but not sure what.

Friday we lost our puppies. One went early in the day to the Muscatine family. The other two were later in the day as we met the Minnesota people (they were from Champlain) and dropped Rory off to the Pharr-phamily on the way.

Tidas had a rough first night after they were gone. He cried and cried. Nick had him in the small travel crate in his room. When we put him in the big crate down here, he is okay. So that is probably where he’ll be at for the most part. He got to go on his first walk in the park on Sabbath. Every smell and texture was so much fun for him. He’d never seen or felt such things. Who knew? The guys took him back today. I didn’t go along. It was colder and I was trying to get this room finished up.

I did give him a nice bath this evening. He was smelling a little gamey. Now he is fresh and clean. He seems a lot happier now that he is dry again. He was pretty chilly for awhile.

Our HUMAN baby is still “in the oven”. We’re glad for that, but have to admit we’re anxious to meet and spoil her. Rhiannon hasn’t had any more problems. We’re thankful for that.

This will be a full week. It is “first of the month” and that always means a lot of extra work. I had to go to court earlier in January and then again on Friday because some people hadn’t paid, except for $214, any rent since they moved in in September. The judge was pretty decent, and didn’t seem to believe them when they said they didn’t realize they owed that much (nearly $3000). The people were fairly decent about it over all – but the man got kind of an attitude with me, like I wasn’t trying to work with them. Huh? $214 since September???? I’d say if anything I was TOO LENIENT or it wouldn’t have gotten this far behind. Will see if they get out on their own or if we have to move them out physically. I’m hoping for the first part of that sentence.

We had a great turn out, I think anyway, to our card making class on Thursday. Tammy P and I put it together. It was held in the community room at the Welch. Let people come and go, Open House style. They could make one or all three cards. Several were new to card making and LOVED it. We’re going to do another one in February (the 24th). This is part of our church’s “get involved in the community” effort.

Nick’s birthday was Sunday. He got his diploma in the mail on Saturday, but we must not have picked up the mail until Sunday because there it was for his birthday. He’s a college grad! I’m so proud of him. It was a long haul and he made it!

I know, like usual, I’ve babbled on and on too long. So I’ll say good-bye and hope to hear from YOU soon!

Vonda

LUDKE-ville 1/9/09

Sittin' here in the easy chair so thought I would start a Ludke-ville here on my phone. Used to be one WANTED to get better at typing so you used more than 2 fingers. These days it is back to 2 fingers, only now it is THUMBS that get the work out.

This week I started to repaint the family room. Yes, I am sorry (in a way) to say the dots are history. Now the walls are on their way to a chocolate color. Tell you what, the first coat calmed the room's feel down a lot. It feels less cluttered.

The puppy children are growing like little Shiba-Inu weeds. All are over 3 pounds now. They walk and frisk around and PEE. The blue tarp gets lots of use.

We still need to get TazZ advertised. Guess I won't wait much longer on my family. Actually I was officially tossed out of the family--I said to RRR&N that it was ME or TazZ, but not both. They said I was gone!!

My world has been pretty narrow this week. Work and sleep. One of my residents has been such an encouragement. She shares Jesus with every one. She knows Jesus is coming soon, that's what she told ME!!

Randy's birthday was this week. Joy brought him a giant pan of Rice Krispy bars. He LOVES those and it meant a lot to him. Mom & Dad sent him a nice card. Rhiannon, Ryan and Nick took him out to eat.

Gary and Mike have their birthdays coming up soon too!!

Went to a friend's house on Thurs. Nite to make cards. That was fun. I have so many supplies-and use it so little. I love it, creating is so enjoyable!! Maybe that should be my New Year's Resolution... to PLAY more? That seems like a weird concept.

Well, I better think of a children's story. I have it at church tomorrow.

So...take care!!! Love to all.
Vonda
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

DECEMBER 26, 2008

I’d like to say this was an active and productive day at our house – but it just isn’t so. We are the epitome of a lazy household. Randy is snoring in his chair. Nick’s upstairs probably experiencing some intergalactic battle via his game system. And me? I was thinking about doing … well, pretty much not thinking about doing anything right now.

Hard to believe that Christmas is behind us when I never really felt like Christmas was ahead of us. I don’t think I ever got into the Christmas spirit at least not until the last couple of days. I think because I had not had time to prepare – or even think about preparing – it just seemed HARD this year.

Thankfully I was able to take off the day before Christmas Eve and we always have Christmas Eve off already – so I got things pulled together pretty well.

It was so very enjoyable. I MEAN this!!! Just to be at home and spend time in my house doing things that needed done. Oh sure there are dozens of things that should be done yet, but won’t there always? My laundry room looks better than it has in a year. I was able to wipe things off and straighten things up. I think I could get into being a ‘stay at home person’. Or at least – a ‘not gone all the time person’. *smile*

Christmas Eve we invited family in for the evening. This is the 2nd year we’ve done this. I made a couple of crock pots of soup, some rolls and Rhiannon got a cake for Ryan’s birthday. I had a few cookies and other snacks. We did a little gift exchange – by reading a much too long ‘right/left/cross’ exchange game. Bellie and Mark win for providing the silliest gift. And Gail wins for bringing the most useful (Dominos).

After we ate – Rhiannon, Ryan, Gail and John delivered gifts to someone here in town that Vonda’s Vine subscribers had donated $$ to buy some things for. I appreciated that they were willing to do the delivery. I didn’t want the recipient to know I was in any way involved.

And then … Gail and Kate taught us how to play dominos. I love to play games - and was thankful to have people to play with. For me anyway, it was a fun FUN evening.

Joy didn’t come – her kids were gone. She was tired from shoveling snow and also her dog had given birth to a puppy and wasn’t taking care of it like she should have. Joy did her best to feed the pup and help it, but Nugget died on Christmas. I’m sure Nugget was treated extra nicely, as Joy is very tender like that. We were sorry she wasn’t here, but understood.

Earlier in the day (Christmas Eve) Randy and Nick had spent 2 hours at the church school helping to clean up water. Pipes had frozen and burst in a couple of spots. By the time it was discovered – nearly every square inch of the school had standing water.

Randy has checked it each day since and emptied the dehumidifiers. I went with him today – and while I don’t think the damage is as bad as I had anticipated, I know when the weather warms the smell in there is going to be strong and musty. The ideal thing would be for the doors and windows to be left open to air out and dry – but of course it IS the middle of winter and that isn’t terribly practical.

The puppies are growing by leaps and bounds. Randy has weighed them each day to monitor progress – yesterday saw the largest single gain since they’ve been born- one pup had a THREE OUNCE gain. Now, except for Twinkle, they are all two pounders. Twinkle has been the ‘runt’ since birth, but is keeping a respectable gain each day too. Eyes are beginning to open and they are beginning to amble around on all fours. Sort of. They take a lot of tumbles which reveals a lot of fat little puppy bellies when they go belly up.

Whenever Rooney is in their area – they are now able to kind of REACH UP to grab hold of the ‘spigots’. They are pretty aggressive little eaters and often sound more like a Quartet of little piggies with their lip smacking and squeals of delight.

Ryan enjoyed spending a lot of time with Rory (the little girl pup they are taking to live at their house). He hadn’t seen the pups since the day they were born. The little black one (Twinkle) is going to live in Minnesota – the deposit came for her and her new family is now anxiously awaiting the time when she is big enough to go. Randy is going to have a hard time. Despite me telling him he can NOT keep Taz – he thinks he is going to keep Taz.

We need many things. One of those is NOT another Shiba-Inu in our house. So if he doesn’t do it soon – I will have to pursue turning Taz into $550. Anyone looking for an adorable little boy Shiba? Let us know! *wink* (Picture on top is MN bound Twinkle – Picture on bottom is ‘ready for a good home’ Taz.)

There were plenty of nice gifts to go around yesterday. I tell you, again this year my family spoiled me rotten. For one thing I am TECHNO-MOMMA!!! Nick was all anxious for me to open his gift – “open it next mom”. I opened it and had no idea what I had opened. Turns out it was a memory stick for my phone. Okay ...??? I need a memory stick for my phone because ????Then I opened another present. I thought it looked like CD's of the NIV Bible. That's nice - I have the NKJV on CD's already but ... And then I found out that what I had opened was the MP3 version of the Bible and it can go on my phone. (That’s why I needed a bigger memory stick.) And I can play MP3's on my phone. Who knew?!! Now I do and I'm happy. I'll use that feature with the NIV.

AND I got a nice picture frame that will hold all my JAIMEE pictures and other pictures if any of them come turn out as fun and important as the Jaimee pictures! *smile* AND I am blue tooth enabled - or wait I probably was (seeing how my phone is a mysterious instrument of communication and entertainment) I have a blue tooth headset for my phone. I like it. It is small and I can wear it under my hair.

Randy called me this morning when I was in the Menard's parking lot. I answered by saying "HI” and immediately continued talking … “as soon as I can find my car (yes, it was lost) I'm going home." Some poor man nearby smiled and said "Hi!" his smile conveyed the rest of his thoughts i.e. Why do I need to know your car is lost and you’re going home when you find it??? -- oops! I forget that people think you're talking to them if they can't see a phone. *tee hee*

Rhiannon’s gifts had sort of a BABY theme to them. To Ryan’s chagrin – Nick got Rhiannon a set of three ISU onesies. There is a constant rivalry between Iowa State and the University of Iowa here!! Other baby items found their way down our non-existent chimney. How fun! Ryan got a curtain rod which he quickly christened a “LIGHT SABER”, lest he be too terribly disappointed in the gift.

If you didn’t get a Christmas card from us this year don’t feel slighted! *LOL* Again, far too many things on my ‘to-do’ list and that didn’t make it to the top! I thought of you all. I saw a young man that I had to do a double take on – it looked just like Paul B when he was maybe 15/16 years old. Once the Twilight Zone music stopped playing in my head – I realized that it was 2008 and it was NOT Paulie-Dollie.

Congrats to Joan and Kirk on the family expansion. I’m sure Scarlet will be a great big sister. Best wishes on the rest of your pregnancy and also that Kirk’s will soon find employment again.

I guess I will say good bye – probably won’t talk to you again until after 2008 becomes 2009. I will again be adding “lose weight’ to my New Year’s Resolution list. Too many jelly-bellies and other good stuff … UGH!

Will anxiously look forward to hearing from YOU – who is YOU? Well, are YOU reading this? Then YOU owe me a note! *wink*
Love to all - V