LUDKE-ville 9/12/09

There are very few rewards for getting older. However, the Lord is good and gives us blessings at every age! To the left you’ll see a little bathing beauty that has blessed us pretty much over the last 6 months! Jaimee got to take a bath at our house last night.

‘GOT’ to take a bath – MIGHT be an understatement.

We’d worked on a yard sale all day here and like all of us, she had become pretty grimy as the day progressed. Somehow she even had ink behind one of her chubby little knees. I imagine someone was carrying her AND a pen at the same time. We were all sweaty and dusty and baths were refreshing to say the least.

Toward the end of the day I was sweeping and rearranging some things in the garage and my heart was as light as a ‘bird hair’ as my little niece Reese would say (most people say light as a feather!) because I thought I MIGHT get to park in my garage again soon. And then Day One of our sale ended and we brought it all back in for Sabbath. Nope! Fuller than ever!! But that’s okay because we DID get rid of a lot of stuff. Hoping tomorrow is really successful so we can get this stuff OUT OF HERE!!

So let’s see what has happened since the last time Ludke-ville wafted across the internet and landed in your email box …

One thing was that my guys went out to the farm and fulfilled a promise that I had made on behalf of our family – WAY EARLIER IN THE SUMMER … and that was to power wash the front porches and paint them. They got the power washing done one day and then went back on the next day to paint it. They got it all covered with paint and the paint ran out. So mom got another gallon and it is riding in the back of my van. Maybe this week they’ll go finish it up.

Last Monday was Labor Day and a Vonda’s Vine lady and her family were going to be at something called Village Fall Festival at Scott County Park. Her family makes brooms the old fashioned way. So we (Randy and I) drove up. It was so fun. I really loved it. There is a little ‘village’ there with lots of historical artifacts. We enjoyed watching the folks do the brooms. One couple was cooking over an open fire. Made bean soup that looked wonderful. If it hadn’t been for the old meaty looking bones laying there (ham hocks?) I might have been tempted to sample it.

As it was they had some cornbread that had been cooked in an iron pot and also some doughnuts that made me remember Gr’ma Goddard’s yummy-lishious homemade donuts. These had had gotten cold and hard (maybe from the day before?), but the memory was fun. Do any of you remember Gr’mas donuts? And how she’d shake them in a bag of granulated sugar?

They had an Indian guy … sorry, NATIVE AMERICAN guy all dressed up in his NA outfit and doing dances. Did you know that NA’s had boomboxes? I thought they were real drums they were dancing to, but there it was a boombox! AND bright white tennis shoes! His information was really interesting though and we watched for quite a while.

We (at least ME) were glad we went!

I also had quite a bit of vacation days this week which is rather nice. I got a ‘use it or lose it’ note from HR, so tried to get ALL of last week off (since Monday was already a holiday). But my boss said HE was going to be gone and he really wanted me to be there if he wasn’t. ?HUH? Anywhoo – I told him if he was going to be gone then I really wanted to be there! *wink* We compromised. I took off Tuesday and Friday.

Really NEEDED the whole week as we were digging stuff out of the basement and pricing and getting ready for the yard sale. LOTS of work for next to nothing! But we do have space that we can now fill up again if we want to!

We have an old TV in the basement -- nothing really wrong with it except no one watches it and it is not one of the new flat screen small 'takes no space' versions. It is a big bulky one. Nick says KEEP IT!! I might want it if I get my own place!

I told him after that - that he could COUNT on it going with him when he goes. Even if he does not want it anymore it is going. Because he said "NO" at this time. I'd love him to get rid of his rickety pool table too - but we have the ping pong table top on it and it is serving as my craft table now - so I'll hush on that one!

Card stamping was SO fun this month. I don’t really know why except that maybe the projects weren’t as complicated and there weren’t so many people. I think that was relaxing. It’s always fun, but I really liked Denise’s project (made two of them!!) and will be using them (and the idea) in the future. My friend Diana made some adorable ADORABLE cards … can’t wait to get one of hers! (We’re doing a card swap, so she’ll get some I made and I’ll get some of hers – and about 11 other people.)

Lasagna for lunch today. YUM. Rhiannon makes a really good pan of lasagna. I made a box of brownies (with walnuts) and they were good too. Think we’ll make it with some spinach next time.

And well, it’s getting late. Our yard sale continues tomorrow and I have to get up and out pretty early – so will say so long AFTER I tell you one more thing!

My hair is “smokin’” … *LOL* I got such an nasty cut a while ago and thankfully Joy helped it some. But I’ve never liked it or thought it looked good until this morning. I borrowed, on a whim, Rhiannon’s flattening tool. I love it. Randy likes it. Several people in church commented that it looked nice. I am going to try it again tomorrow.

Jill and Mike – sounds like your RV is really nice! So happy for you! Randy has enjoyed talking with you a couple times lately. Sounds like Mary is heading back to Mason City from Red Wing. Hope that goes well for you Mary. Joannie – MORE PICTURES!!! You’re little girls are so fun to see! Steph –hope all is well out that way for you guys. Hi to Deb and family too!

Bryan family … “HEY THERE!!!” Been a long time since I’ve heard from any of you. Keep us posted on what is going on in your lives!

JoDe love the Watsonian, keep it coming! Reese looked so darling today in church!
To everyone else – write! We love hearing from everyone!

Vonda

LUDKE-ville 9/1/09

Hi All –

It’s been some time since I Ludke-ville’d you, so when I had a miracle happen today I wanted to at least get started on one so I could TELL YOU. See the picture up there?

This week Longaberger® had a ONE DAY sale on a new basket called the Bread Carrier Basket. I still have Vonda’s Vine which is my on-line presence, a newsletter (2x daily) for Longaberger folk. I was working on a Vonda’s Vine supplement to share with my subscribers (and customers). As I fussed around with it I tried to find a logo I KNEW I had, but was having trouble finding it.

I saw one picture that seemed to be out of place. It had a goofy name, so out of curiosity I opened it in my document I was creating (Bread Carrier Basket, remember?) – and there was this picture of bread and the Bible verse. I didn’t look ANY further for the other graphic. I figured God wanted that picture inserted in that document I was sharing with several hundred people who would in turn share it with hundreds (thousands?) more of their customers.

I just KNOW Jesus is coming soon. And people NEED to know that Jesus loves them. I guess He was telling me to let people know. What do you think?

The past two Sabbath’s we’ve had “out of door” services. The first weekend was our church sponsored LOUD THUNDER MINI-CAMPMEETING. Done this as long as I can remember (even when I was little). It was a gorgeous day. We were lucky enough to have Gerri and Dale Eddy as our guests for the weekend. They are parents of Rhiannon’s good friends Kristen and Kim (they were in her wedding). They are kind enough to let our Ryan stay with them this semester while he is in school. We’re ever so grateful for their kindness.

We also had our guest speaker at our home that weekend. Elder Van Hurst (first name Van second name Hurst). If I had the musical talent that just his pinky finger had – I’d think I was a musical GENIOUS. He is SO talented. He can make the piano play those “old time hymns” in a way that has even the kids tapping their toes. He is good! And SO personable. When I found out we were having him at the last minute – of course I PANICKED – but it all worked out (as it ALWAYS does).

Last Sabbath we drove up to Thompson IL – where the Clinton SDA church was having a mini-er mini campmeeting. We didn’t take coats. It was CHILLY and WINDY and we didn’t take coats. How bright was that? FORTUNATELY our new BEST FRIENDS – had extra coats and parkas and were generous to loan them. Seriously we were so thankful for the covers. Even so we left before the afternoon meeting as my feet were turning to ice cubes quickly!!!

We went to Branson on the Road this past Sunday. The Lion’s Club sponsored them as a fund raiser. Randy won a ticket and so we, and Rhiannon and her baby Jaimee, all went. Jaimee was SO tired when we left for Central Middle School Auditorium. We questioned if she’d have a baby meltdown during the show or not. Naturally, I HOGGED her for the show. And she laid out on my arms, little legs draped casually – and watched the show.

She is a little country music lover I think! Especially when they’d play a Johnny Cash song – that little 6 month old foot started moving in time to the music. It was funny. The lady sitting on the other side of Rhiannon even noticed it. She did really, really good. The last part of the show – I took the Gr’ma option and handed her off to her mommy. They said “last song” and we thought WHEW!!! Then they did an encore song … yikes!! And then they did an encore to the encore … DOUBLE YIKES! Jaimee didn’t every TOTALLY melt down, but if they’d encored the encored encore – we WOULD have ‘had it’.

That little girl is GROWING like a real weed. We hadn’t seen her for about ONE week and when they came down on Sunday afternoon both Randy and I were SHOCKED at how LONG/tall she had gotten. I mean, she is still itty-bitty by human standards, but I told Rhiannon to stop feeding her STRING BEANS!!! (She just started eating real human food 2 weeks ago and is LOVING every bite!)
Randy and I celebrated (?) our 34th wedding anniversary this week. Yes, it was an eventful day … we started off by FINALLY remembering to say those magic words … “Happy Anniversary” to each other – by email and phone. We ordered a celebratory PAPA MURPHY’s ‘bake your own’ pizza for supper! Oh we are SO romantic, aren’t we!!

I ran up to see my cousin Robbie in between jobs this afternoon -- took her a few balloons. She broke her ankle very seriously earlier in the summer when a porch swing collapsed when she was using it. She had to have surgery and has been in a cast since! Sounds like she had had some unusual stuff going on with the ankle and leg – so she ended up in the hospital with blood clots.

When I got there she was getting a boot put on her ankle. They'd cut off her cast. There was a saw sitting there at the foot of her bed like a regular old machine shop SAW!!!! (had a vacuum thing attached to it too) -- they came in to take some blood and she was spooked about that. I kidded her that she'd lived through having a big old saw used on her - she shouldn't be worried over a needle!!

Aunt Lois was there - sounds like she's been there most of the time. She seemed sort of worried, as we all would be. Robbie has more than one clot probably ranging from her groin area to at least the ankle. When they did the ultra sound they only did to the top of the plaster cast -- that's where they saw multiple blood clots and why they assume that she probably has more below that. Now that cast is off - but they didn't sound like they were going to check it out.

She's on Coumadin and that other blood thinner that I can't remember -- it's a common one. Doing it by IV right now - will have to have pills for quite awhile after she gets out. She is hoping to go to the Ringling Brother’s Circus this weekend still. Keep her in your prayers!!

I signed up to be part of a SYMPATHY CARD card exchange. It’s turning out to be a BIG exchange and last I knew I had to make 26 cards. YIKES!! I hope people don’t all have them say SYMPATHY – I don’t want to have to use 26 of THOSE. I’m going to do one set (13) of mine with some other sentiment. It’s been fun to go down and play for a bit here and there.


Think of you all OFTEN. Rhiannon said something about it being fun to drive out east together sometime. We’ll be giving it some serious thought. Need to get up north sometime too. It was much easier when mom and dad were there and we had a place to crash! We did enjoy our flying trip to Red Wing earlier this summer though!

Love and God’s blessing to each of you!

V

PS Hello to our Ryan!! Love you!!


Isn’t my little dolly … just a DOLLY???? Well, it’s getting to be bedtime – guess I’ll go up and get ready. Just wanted to touch bases with you all.

LUDKE-ville 8/7/09

We’re on the edge of a HEAT WAVE … We have heard repeatedly today that the weekend is going to be HOT. DANGEROUSLY hot one report said. I’m not into DANGEROUS anything, but heat is right up there at the top of the list. Add humidity to it and it’s way up there!

Seems like there is always something out of the ordinary happening. So maybe it’s NOT out of the ordinary. Hmm? I’ll have to think that over. I had a jury summons mailed to me a few weeks ago. This is the FOURTH time, I think, that I’ve been called for jury duty. One time I got selected to sit on the jury. Twice I got excused or there wasn’t a trial on my day.

So I didn’t think much about it. I’d call the night before. I’d show up if they told me to. And within an hour I’d be on my way to work. NOT!!

I called the night before. The recorded message told me to show up, so I did. I was one of forty people there. They only need 12. So I’m encouraged by looking at the sheer number of people there, my odds were pretty good to be on my happy way soon. They randomly selected 24 out of the 40. The rest had to still stay there. One by one the attorneys questioned us. Do you this, did you that, how do you feel about this, would you …??? LONG. BORING.

To make it worse the defense attorney felt the need to be wordy. Instead of saying “Is the ball red?” He would say “If Rodney the Mailman was driving his truck past you in the light of the moon on the 23rd day of February in a snowstorm … would it be fair to say the ball could look PURPLE?”

To make it worse the defense attorney felt the need to be wordy AND he had a speech impediment. Instead of saying “Is the ball red?” He would say “If Wodney the Mailman was dwiving his twuck past you in the wight of the moon on the 23thood day of Febwuawy in a snowstowm… wouwd it be faiw to say the baww couwd wook pupwe?”

People were looking at him, concentrating on him and almost every time they’d say “Could you repeat the question please?”

Long story a little shorter – I was chosen. It turned out to be a 2 day trial. OWI – A one vehicle accident occurred. A male and a female were in the truck. The female maintained that she was NOT driving. And yet – the male was trapped in the truck, had to have the jaws of life cut him out of the truck and his arm was pinned between the truck and the ground – ON THE PASSENGER SIDE of the vehicle. We listened/watched a very long (48 minute) video recorded from the officer’s car at the scene. We heard her talk a lot. Just before the trial started she signed a statement that said she WAS driving the vehicle. (duh!) So it was our job to find her guilty or innocent of operating under the influence of alcohol.

We found her guilty – but not until after we had to re-watch the entire boring video and deliberate some more to satisfy a couple of jurors. DO NOT ask me to ever lie for you. Those ‘character witnesses’ were almost funny in the way they tripped themselves up. But I have determined that I do not want to be in that position ever. Anyway – we did find out that this was her THIRD offense for OWI.

That was Wednesday and Thursday. I went to work after we got out on Thursday. Arrived at 5 pm and worked until 8:30. Got most of my rent posted – terrible time to have to be away from the office. Today I worked a full day at City Hall. I could have had those extra hours yesterday too – except for jury duty. Fooey.

I got my hair cut this week also. Not sure yet if it was a good thing or not. My sister in law Bellie got such a cute haircut from Regis – so needing one badly I made an appointment and went in. I told the girl what I wanted. I must have explained it differently in my words than I was picturing in my head. But … like my little sister told me once when I cut my OWN hair – “Vonda, you know I can’t cut it longer right?”

I fussed with it and got it to look okay on days one and two – but if I thought it looked a little "iffy" on Wednesday and Thursday - I was wrong. TODAY it is atrocious. There is so much humidity in the air that each and every hair on my head shrugged it's tiny shoulders (does hair have shoulders?) and gave up ANY attempt at being fluffy and cute-ish.

Nick has a full weekend with his 5-year reunion and a trip he wants to make to Des Moines with some other folks. He’s very pleased to have his yellow car in his possession. He seems to think it’s fun to drive.

If you are in our area – mark the 21st and 22nd on the calendar and join us for the Loud Thunder mini-campmeeting. Van Hurst is coming to be the weekend speaker. We’ve had him before. Very personable. Our friends Gerri and Dale – who are actually the parents of Rhiannon’s good friends Kristen and Kim – are coming to be with us for the event. We’re looking forward to that.

I need to head to bed – Take care and I look forward to hearing from you.
Vonda

PS Aunt Lois how is Robbie doing?

LUDKE-ville 6/13/09

We drove around Red Wing – one of the places we HAD to drive by (a couple of times) was ‘home’. 313 Cedar Street.

They had pulled out the bushes around the house and put in all new windows and siding (wouldn’t dad have loved that?). I doubt they would have liked the way the ‘gravel’ or whatever that is looked around the house. It looks bland.

June 13 – 11:48 p.m.

Well, here we sit somewhere south of the Minnesota border - getting a ticket. Hmm? Randy was driving. The officer said it would be a warning ticket. A warning? That we pay up or else? It is taking a long time.

Our trip to Minnesota -

We decided to drive part way to MN last night (Friday). Stayed along the way at a motel. Waited to sort of the last minute to make a final decision whether to go or not. Once we did decided, our hope was to go to church in Red Wing, see Mary, see Joan, Kirk and Scarlet and go to Amy Arnold's grad party and head home yet Sat. night.

Turns out RW closes church during MN camp meeting, so that option was off the table. We stopped in to see Mary and her nice apartment. The three of us did a nice driving tour of RW. Randy and I hadn't been there since dad died. A lot was the same - but much had changed too.

I wasn't 100% sure we would actually go north or not. So didn’t make contact with Joan ahead of time. When we called her Friday she said they had plans already on Saturday. So we weren't able to see them.

It had been so much fun last weekend to see Smuda’s- it makes us want to reconnect with everyone - so we felt sad to be close to Petersons and not see them. Yet it was our fault for not making definite plans earlier.

We drove over to Prescott WI for the grad party. What a beautiful day and such a pretty town, hadn’t been there before. In order to not appear TOO decrepit and hobbly when we saw friends we hadn’t seen in years - we stopped at their visitor center to potty, stretch, and limber up!

The view was outstanding from the bluff, TOTALLY peaceful and calming. If that was all we did in Prescott on that Sabbath day, it would have been a blessing to have been there. The girl working there toward the CONFLUENCE. We were both polite. Smiled, then walked toward where her finger pointed. Once out of earshot we confided to each other that we didn't know what a confluence was. Randy's friends enlightened us. We now know it is where 2 rivers flow together.

The graduation party was nice. It was so pretty out, a perfect day. The gathering was outside under some tents, the setting was park-like at the graduate’s grandma’s home. There was no blaring music so it was easy to visit, which I appreciated. Amy is a lovely young lady with dreams of college teaching her all about Asian studies so she can participate in the growing connection between world markets … or something like that!

Randy sure enjoyed, as did I, visiting with long-time friends from his days in Red Wing. David Arnold, Gene (and Kathy) Littlefield, and Ken Dickey. How those guys lived to adulthood is a mystery!!!

One of his friends, actually I guess two of OUR friends, work at a company I thought was a power plant – but turns out they make drywall and ceiling tile. Not sure where the disconnect in MY mind came – but I always have thought they worked at a power plant. Anyway, talking about the disasters that have brought business into the drywall business in recent years. I couldn’t help but think that we will be seeing more of these disasters as time progresses. Jesus surely is coming soon.

Now it is 11:48 pm and we are nearly 1/2 way home. YAWN. We Google’d a high school friend whose name came up often in conversation. Found a phone # so Randy called Clark for 30 minutes or so. Sounds like they had a nice conversation.



I think these are sideways - I'll have to learn how to do this better on the blog.



We drove around Red Wing – one of the places we HAD to drive by (a couple of times) was ‘home’. 313 Cedar Street.

They had pulled out the bushes around the house and put in all new windows and siding (wouldn’t dad have loved that?). I doubt they would have liked the way the ‘gravel’ or whatever that is looked around the house. It looks bland.

If you click the pictures in this Ludke-ville they should come up larger on your screen …











June 13 – 11:48 p.m.

Well, here we sit somewhere south of the Minnesota border - getting a ticket. Hmm? Randy was driving. The officer said it would be a warning ticket. A warning? That we pay up or else? It is taking a long time.

Our trip to Minnesota -

We decided to drive part way to MN last night (Friday). Stayed along the way at a motel. Waited to sort of the last minute to make a final decision whether to go or not. Once we did decided, our hope was to go to church in Red Wing, see Mary, see Joan, Kirk and Scarlet and go to Amy Arnold's grad party and head home yet Sat. night.

Turns out RW closes church during MN camp meeting, so that option was off the table. We stopped in to see Mary and her nice apartment. The three of us did a nice driving tour of RW. Randy and I hadn't been there since dad died. A lot was the same - but much had changed too.

I wasn't 100% sure we would actually go north or not. So didn’t make contact with Joan ahead of time. When we called her Friday she said they had plans already on Saturday. So we weren't able to see them.

It had been so much fun last weekend to see Smuda’s- it makes us want to reconnect with everyone - so we felt sad to be close to Petersons and not see them. Yet it was our fault for not making definite plans earlier.

We drove over to Prescott WI for the grad party. What a beautiful day and such a pretty town, hadn’t been there before. In order to not appear TOO decrepit and hobbly when we saw friends we hadn’t seen in years - we stopped at their visitor center to potty, stretch, and limber up!

The view was outstanding from the bluff, TOTALLY peaceful and calming. If that was all we did in Prescott on that Sabbath day, it would have been a blessing to have been there. The girl working there toward the CONFLUENCE. We were both polite. Smiled, then walked toward where her finger pointed. Once out of earshot we confided to each other that we didn't know what a confluence was. Randy's friends enlightened us. We now know it is where 2 rivers flow together.

The graduation party was nice. It was so pretty out, a perfect day. The gathering was outside under some tents, the setting was park-like at the graduate’s grandma’s home. There was no blaring music so it was easy to visit, which I appreciated. Amy is a lovely young lady with dreams of college teaching her all about Asian studies so she can participate in the growing connection between world markets … or something like that!

Randy sure enjoyed, as did I, visiting with long-time friends from his days in Red Wing. David Arnold, Gene (and Kathy) Littlefield, and Ken Dickey. How those guys lived to adulthood is a mystery!!!

One of his friends, actually I guess two of OUR friends, work at a company I thought was a power plant – but turns out they make drywall and ceiling tile. Not sure where the disconnect in MY mind came – but I always have thought they worked at a power plant. Anyway, talking about the disasters that have brought business into the drywall business in recent years. I couldn’t help but think that we will be seeing more of these disasters as time progresses. Jesus surely is coming soon.

Now it is 11:48 pm and we are nearly 1/2 way home. YAWN. We Google’d a high school friend whose name came up often in conversation. Found a phone # so Randy called Clark for 30 minutes or so. Sounds like they had a nice conversation.



Sunday – 1:53 p.m.

We thought strongly about seeing if we could find the spare key at Ryan and Rhiannon’s as we sailed by there at about 1:30 a.m. this morning. So tired, thinking that extra bed in the extra room sounded like it was calling our name (the kids were in Illinois camping this weekend). Not wanting to waste time by trying to find it in the dark, we continued. Finally got home about 2:36 am – I’m sure I was in bed asleep by 3 am.

Needless to say it was good sleep in this morning. We got up and threw all four dogs into the van and went for a drive over to the arboretum and walked them. Figured it would be fastest for both of us to take two and get it all done in one fell-swoop. Otherwise Randy would have been out with dogs for the next hour or so … one at a time. Yes, I think Nick is still dog-sitting. Somehow though our presence allows him to believe we are in charge!

A thoroughly lovely weekend—hope yours was equally as nice.

Take care – keep safe – love Jesus!

Vonda

PS – Our friends asked how Ryan was doing. I guess when things seemed DIRE, I kept you posted. The news is … we still don’t know what ‘got him’. The lymphoma oncologist does not believe it to be lymphoma. Then they thought it was the histoplasmomsis. Nothing ended up growing in the culture they did, so they ruled that out and took Ryan off the antifungal medication. He is feeling better, and it appears that we may not ever know exactly what made him so horribly sick. As he continues to get stronger and back to 100% -- Thank you for your prayers. God has been good and answered our prayers for his healing.

LUDKE-ville 6/2/09

WELCOME to JOSIE QUINN PETERSON – the newest member of our family! We were happy to learn that Kirk and Joan’s 2nd little girl had been born on Friday. Can’t wait to see pictures of her. If she is as cute as … well, we know she’ll be adorable! (Joan, if you don’t know, is Randy’s sister.)


I don’t know what the weather has been like in your neck of the woods, but if it’s been less than 93-94 degrees (with a humidity level to match) with a heat index of over 100, COUNT YOURSELF cool and refreshed! UGH! Thankfully today was much more tolerably temperate. There was a little bit of a breeze (see above photo) that kept things interesting at a picnic, but so much better than the last several days.

We had our Goddard Reunion today. I’m such a dork! Rhiannon came down from Coralville. She and I (with Jaimee) were heading to the park. Randy was going to follow whenever he finished what he was doing. I had my casserole in a dish, nestled soundly in a basket, ready to go. When we opened the door to leave the dogs ran into the garage. After capturing them and returning them into the house (which apparently involved setting the basket down), off we went.

Once there, I climbed out of Rhiannon’s car. Instantly I realized I had no food for the potluck picnic! It was home in the basket! Fortunately Randy was still there, so he grabbed it and brought it. I don’t think anyone starved because it was there late – still it makes me wonder if all my marbles are rattling around in my head!

It was fun to visit with members of my family. I hadn’t seen my cousin Rod in a very-very long time. He was there with two daughters, very pretty girls. I’m sure their family had fun together with Des and Erin there too! Enjoyed saying ‘hi’ to my cousin Debbie also and her brother Bruce. I wish I had taken more pictures. I took a short video with Rhiannon’s camera, very short.

Seem to always spend more time with our own nuclear family (looked like most of the nuclear families did!) but yet we did get to say hi to different ones. Talked a little with my cousin Tammy and some of her group. Her daughter Angie has a 2-month old baby. Tammy and Bill have 14 grandchildren (with 2 more due in October!). I didn’t think to ask if they were the same momma. Hmm? I know they already have 2 sets of twins. The little guy you see the back of in the picture above is just-turned-2 years old Moses.

Moses had already ended up in the emergency room early this a.m. where he got 6 stitches and little band aid thing all wrapped around his foot and ankle. Didn’t slow him down a bit. They were always plucking him from danger somewhere! Adventurous, quick, nimble and happily RESILIENT. He has a twin sister and two older siblings and at least one of the new babies coming in October!

I want to know … I need to know … why does government make things so difficult? I am stressed to the max over an upcoming visit from Iowa Finance Authority. I have been pouring over my files one by one to make sure I have what I need in the places I need it. It’s going to make me lose my mind! The visit is on Tuesday and I will be so glad for Tuesday night. Been hard to think of anything else and I know people are getting SICK of my whining! But it is ‘worry whining’ if that makes me any more endurable???

We babysat the Pharr-Phamily Phour-leggeds for a few days … that’s a lot of Shiba-Inus (or pets of any sort) to have in one house at one time in the sweltering heat. Tucker obviously was holding Shiba School while we were gone each day. He is notorious for ripping, shredding and totally demolishing his stuffed toys. There was stuffed toy fluff from here to there and then some. In the course of just a couple of days we found noisemakers and innards from at least 2 toys.

Now, the Pharr-Phamily Phour-leggeds are gone. Today the ‘fluff’ reappeared. I heard a squeak-squeak. When I looked I found the empty hide of a little red fox toy. There was Ti chewing the squeaky part to oblivion. Rooney was laying sound asleep far removed from the action, so I’m pretty sure it was Ti who attended Tucker’s Shiba School.

This next week is our monthly stamping night on Thursday. I am not prepared at all – I will be (hopefully) taking Wednesday afternoon and dedicating it to being ready for Thursday. (I am doing at least ONE project for the night. Hope to do two.) JoDe Lee you be sure and be there at 6:30 okay? I think you might have fun. If you don’t like it – you don’t come back next month. If you do … then welcome to our monthly get togethers! Okay???

Wanna see something really cute? If you do click the link below … some of you might have already looked at it. If you want to look again, I don’t blame you! She’s our little dolly. This is her 4-month picture series.

http://portraits.pictureme.com/pr3/store.aspx

Last Name: pharr
Studio ID: 12827
Password: 101341

I suppose that by now you have other things you ‘should’ be doing. I know I probably better get to bed so I can head down the road to work at the appropriate time tomorrow!

Hope you have great things planned for this week! May God bless you abundantly! And don’t forget … Jesus is coming soon! Aren’t you happy?


Vonda

PS My dad with my peanut … today!

Ludke-ville 5/29/09

Well yes, I know - sometimes you have to just admit it. We have just TOO much 'cute' going on around here these days. Aren't we lucky?

Poor Gr'pa Randy has been pretty sick since a week ago on Thursday. He has coughed and hurumphed and run a fever and felt just plain icky. He's been awful tired too. I thought he sounded a little better yesterday, but then today I thought he sounded worse again. Maybe after a good Sabbath rest he'll be good to go again.

To me anyway, for a short week it seemed pretty long. We had three days off for Memorial Day and a 3-day weekend beats a 2-day weekend any way you look at it! This week at my morning job it has been NON-stop. You know all that $$ that is being pumped back into the economy? Well, our housing agency got a portion of it. So for our public housing property on Houser we are getting brand spankin' new high efficiency furnaces WITH central air. Right now they use window units if they want a/c.

Then because the bids came in lower than projected it left enough moola to install brand spankin' new on-demand tankless water heaters. Not sure yet if we're doing all or just some. Still and all - I'd like to have some high efficiency stuff at my house. How 'bout you?

When I get there at 7:30 a.m. - my boss already has a pile of stuff for me. And if not right away - within 1/2 an hour has has a pile of stuff for me! Good thing I think we're working well together. For the longest time there was something about how he treated me, or at least how I felt he treated me that made me feel stupid. I think he trusts me more and he might still think I'm stupid - but less obvious about it! *smile* Seriously its a better working relationship and I'm thankful for it.

At my afternoon job I'm struglling to get a couple of unis rented. I had a waiting list for one of the buildings of about 10 people. Believe it or not I've gone through all but 2 of them. For one reason or another they've declined the unit. This is a really NICE unit - about 3 years old. And I'm surrised! actually out of the ones that haven't worked out - there were a couple that I denied because of housekeeing, etc. Maybe next week. I did get the 'bread seminar' apartment rented this week. They move in next week. (That's a different building.)

My new tenant is a BRA DESIGNER. Who knew there was such a thing? But really she is. For a company called Aviana Bras out of Marietta, GA. They do bras for full sized women. I thought that was interesting.

Nicholas is still waiting on his yellow car. He bought this in Washington State a couple months ago. Drove home in a winter storm - the roads were closed in Wyoming on the way back. There seemed to be something going on with the car so he took it in and had it diagnosed with "clutch walk" and has been waiting on everyone to decide what and who was paying. Sounds like the "clutch walk" people are in the process of fixing it now and hopefully it won't be a lot longer before he has it back and can actually drive it.

I got my helmet this week. I got to thinking that it was kind of stupid to ride around without a helmet and decided this year was helmet year. I got a lime green one. It was a cheapy, but it's better than nothing, I'm sure. Now I'll start riding my scoooter again. I wish I could figure a way to carry my pop in the little trunk without it sloshing and spilling. I have to have my pop (and ice) a certain way, or it's not worth having. And carrying it from one place to another has vexed me!

I don't have much adventure to tell you about this week. Jaimee and Rhiannon came to see us on Thursday aftenroon. It was GREAT. Jaimee is getting SO STRONG. And enormously alert. We drove down to see Great Gr'ma nd Gr'pa. Gr'ma was gone with Maggie and Colton, but we did see Gr'pa. Jaimee seemed to like him! And he liked her! I wish so bad he could see these little people!

Sounds like Mark's little guy Dayton (actually Tonya's little guy - but Mark-e-Mark's grandson, will have a birthday party this weekend. THREE!

We're looking forward to seeing the Smuda's this next weekend! It's been SO LONG. I hope I can get my house cleaned before they get here! I truly do need a live in maid or a wife! Joannie -- hope you're getting by. I'm sure the days are long when you can't get up and about. (She's on bedrest during the rest of her pregnancy - this is one of Randy's sisters for those of you who don't know.) Are Deb and Alana back in the states???

Well, I'll say good bye. Take care and look forward to hearing from any and all of you! Vonda

Ludke-ville MEMORIAL DAY 5/25/09

Hello Everyone!

I’m sitting here with goose bumps all over me and thinking about the days last week when I was wishing for the air conditioner! It’s kind of chilly and damp today in Iowa.

Hope this finds everyone well on this Memorial Day! I just LOVE three day weekends. Love them, love them, LOVE THEM!!

My mom made a list of some things that need done on the farm – and I volunteered my family to do one of them. This would have been a good time to get in gear to do that. But, sorry mom, I just played this weekend. That doesn’t mean I didn’t do ANYTHING, but it does mean I didn’t accomplish much that will show next week when I start thinking about ALL THE THINGS THAT NEED DONE!!! It’s just felt so extra good not to have to be on the run this weekend.

I have had a hankering to do some ‘crafting’ i.e. make some cards and do some scrapbooking. So yesterday I spent several hours working on Jaimee’s scrapbook and made a couple of graduation cards. Then today I pretty much did the same. I was going to work on a wedding present for the daughter of one of my co-workers. But it required some spray painting and about the time I was going to go outside to do the spraying – it was drizzling. So I gave it up for today.

I’m definitely going to have to pick and choose scrapbooking ‘events’ for Jaimee or this book is going to be a mile thick before she’s one year old. I think already things have slowed down, but at first you have a) being born, b) coming home, c) meeting this person, d) first dirty diaper, e) first spit up, f) first bath, g) meeting that person, h) baby shower, i) well you know … you’re pretty busy being admired those first several weeks!

We did go up to Iowa City yesterday. Probably wasn’t the greatest day to go. Randy has his ‘Randy-itis’ again. Not sure what he gets that seems worse always than other people’s colds. His is loud and constant. He was afraid to be around the baby that much. We didn’t stay very long. I got to see the little one – who actually didn’t seem to have grown much this week.

She had just gotten in from her first ever tube ride. They went on the boat and Rhiannon took her out on the tube! (My mom probably needs resuscitated at this point!!! Water sports make her nervous, don’t they mom?) The kids are being real careful with the baby’s skin so she doesn’t burn. She has a little outfit that is supposedly SPF 50 – and she wears that instead of her darling little bikini. She looks cute in her little ‘wet-suit’ looking outfit too!

And yes, THEY went on the boat – and THEY included Ryan. He has rebounded again and seems to be doing pretty well. Taking up some of the things he likes to do, even went skiing for a short bit yesterday too. For a guy who last week was wishing he had a wheelchair to roll him from the couch to the bedroom because he had no strength – a stint on water skis is pretty good. Hopefully he’ll be able to head back to work soon – not sure what the plan on that is. But of course we want him back to feeling good.

Our garage is getting a bunch of stuff in it – preparing for a garage/yard sale. I need to start concentrating on that. There are so many things that I’d like to get rid of here. Not sure what they are – mostly OTHER people’s things is what I have discovered as I look around. But that isn’t fair, is it? I know this house has way too much stuff in it. See? Another thing I should have been doing this weekend!

I think I’ll close because I am thinking of some things I should be doing … laundry comes to mind right off the top! Hope you have a GREAT week. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Love to all –
V

PS In case you didn’t figure out already – the beautiful little baby at the top of the page is ME! I’m posing with my dad somewhere. Not sure where – it’s a monument of some sort!

Ludke-ville 4/19/09

Hello All –

Yes, we also have a spring butterfly--this was a week ago. We didn’t torment her at all this week…Yet! She was tied to the chair because she is still pretty bobble-headed and not even close to sitting up yet at just 7 weeks (in the pic).

I got down to my craft room today for a little while. Whoo hoo!! I wanted to work on scrapbooking some pictures of the baby. I completed or should say ALMOST completed 2 sets of pages. It’s going to take a long time at this pace! I’m not doing any journaling, will leave that to her parents.

Rhiannon had been wanting a used dresser to paint for Baby J’s room. She had her eye on my IKEA chair or something like it for nursing Baby J in the middle of the night. I know, a GOOD mom would have given the chair, right? Well, I’m NOT a good mom then! IKEA even mocked us by sending an email sale ad this past week. They shouldn’t do that to us if they aren’t going to build a store in our area. It’s just MEAN.

There is an auction place in our area that has a weekly consignment auction. It’s HUGE. Several buildings with one or two auctions going on within each building at the same time. Everything from lawn equipment, boats, cars, furniture, junk, antiques, literally EVERYTHING will be found at one time or another at this auction. On the spur of the moment Rhiannon and I decided to meet at the auction and see what they had this week.

I got there a little bit before she did and quickly perused the main building and got a number for us. I could NOT believe my eyes - right there in front of me I could see not only dressers that could work for what she needed, but an IKEA chair in an off-white which would work in her space.

After Rhiannon and Jaimee got there and we got all situated – we looked over other things that could be ours with the right bid.

Of course playing “I spy with my little eye” is only a teensy portion of the auction equation. You have to win the bid (and of course wait for them to actually auction your items … they tend to auction everything else off before the things YOU want to bid on). Finally they got close. Rhiannon and I were standing near (but not BY) the things she was interested in. Standing BY something signals others that there is something of value where you are and then THEY get interested and bid against you.

So there we are looking at “our items” with only our peripheral vision. NO ONE looks interested, we feel confident that we are ‘home free’ and going to get magnificent bargains!

AND THEN I SPY THE MOST WONDERFUL ITEM AT THE ENTIRE AUCTION … it’s a brass fish. Huge! Probably 18-24 inches long at least. And probably 10-12 inches tall. Flowing flippy-fish things from out the sides, mouth gaping open as only a fish mouth can do. Ahh!! Happy music starts playing in my head, the world stands still for a moment in time and then …. I tell Rhiannon “I HAVE TO HAVE THAT FISH!!! for Mark!!!”

My brother Mark has recently begun to collect brass pieces. And this fish, while it would make his wife Bellie say “Mark? WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THAT HUGE BRASS FISH??” (And he would reply, “I don’t know, but we HAVE to keep it because Vonda gave it to me ….”) Anyway, it would almost certainly be the crème-de-le-crème of Mark’s new brass collection.

The ‘peripheral vision looking’ now includes the “guppy”, as we later learned he was called. NO ONE is looking interested in the chair, the dressers OR the fish. What a happy day.

Finally, the auctioneer holds up the fish. It is outstanding in its sheer brassness … I have my number in hand and can hardly conceal my enthusiasm. I just KNOW for $2 or ($5 maximum) that I am going home with the trophy (no pun intended). My hand nervously twitches as the auctioneer says “Who’ll give $10 for this brass guppy?” NO ONE BIDS. I’m ecstatic! The bid goes lower (my heart skips a beat …) and my hand is ready to spring up to claim my prize when all of a sudden the world goes crazy. Someone bids $5 (my max bid … oh no!!) – then $10 and then $12.50 and then … and then … all the way up to $100.

My heart was broken. The dream had ended. Someone was walking away with Mark’s guppy. I contemplated offering them $5 … just in case they didn’t really mean to buy it.

The good auction news was that Rhiannon got her IKEA chair and not one, but TWO of the TWO dressers she was looking at – for UNDER $20 total. Getting an IKEA chair, two dressers, a stroller, a baby and the crate for the dogs in the vehicles was a challenge. But we did it! She said the cover of the chair came off and washed up nicely. I wish I lived closer so I could help with the dressers, but … I can’t even get my own projects done, so it’s probably just as well I don’t live closer.

I went to a training course Friday on grammar and proof-reading, which is kinda funny when I read back over this!! I think if the seminar presenter were to have read this before I walked away, she would have kept me after school and we’d probably still be there for a private tutoring session.

Yesterday after church we enjoyed having Wynter, Mitch and Colton join us for lunch. Mitch and Colton didn’t stay a long time – Wynter and Rhiannon spent a lot of time visiting with each other. I got to spend a lot of time holding the baby (who had tons of smiles for Gram(me)). Then at 5 pm it was time for our small group to arrive. This week we had to rename it the VERY SMALL small group as there was only Randy, myself and one other.

Okay if you are in our area – PLEASE come this next weekend to the Creation vs. Evolution Seminars our church is sponsoring. I promise no one is going to tackle you and baptize you (we’re far more sneaky than that! *wink*). Seriously though in this world we live in, where we can see things in the Bible coming true, it is GOOD for us to learn to defend the Biblical things we believe, INCLUDING knowing about creation and evolution and the difference therein.

CREATION vs EVOLUTION
Dr. John Kurlinski

April 24 – 7 p.m.:
"2009 - The Year of Darwin" -- The
History of Charles Darwin and the
Evolution of His Theory
April 25 - 9:30 a.m.
"The Origin of the 24/7 Cycle"
April 25 - 11 a.m.
"The Strange Habits of an Infinite
God"
April 25 – 2 p.m.
"Dating, Dinosaurs & The Geologic
Column" or "The Flood" (audience
choice)
Questions and Answers

Hope you had a great week and that you WILL have a great week. Take care and much love to all.
Vonda

Ludke-ville 4/12/09

Greetings all!
It’s another weekend gone. Bah-humbug! I love the weekends! Especially now that I can see them! *LOL*
This was an especially sad week. In all, three funeral/memorial services to be attended. I didn’t make it to the third one – but what a lot of loss and sadness. Satan must be extremely jolly this week.
My cousin lost her husband and another young person who is more my sisters’ age died unexpectedly. Both were much too young. Steve had been sick for quite awhile and while I didn’t know him except to know who he was – I’m know it leaves an enormous hole in the hearts and lives of those who love him.
I’m so thankful that Jesus has promised that though we die here and rest in the grave until He comes … that there WILL be a resurrection and He WILL come. I love the comfort the Bible gives in times of loss. I hope both families have a faith that will sustain them in these dark days and help them see beyond the hurt of the present. It will take a lot of time, of course -
Randy had Friday afternoon off, so we ventured off to the Pharr’s house for a visit. Mostly Randy wanted to be able to take the dogs to the dog park there in Iowa City. Tidas needs some socializing. He’s very timid (to the point of having the ‘you know what’ scared out of him when he meets new people and/or dogs.
Nick met us at Rhiannon and Ryan’s house and we headed off that direction. There are two ways to get to the dog park. One you drive right up to – and one you park and walk to. From the kid’s house it takes about the same amount of time either way. So we chose to park and walk. I got to be the stroller lady. It was too windy let Jaimee come out and see the world. So she just slept. (Sorry mom and Aunt L that we didn’t get to the Fruitland thing. )
Then the kids came down to church on Sabbath. We got a little carried away with taking some pictures. It was fun to set up props and pose our baby in them. We had her tied to chairs and all sorts of interesting things. I think between Rhiannon and I we got some cute shots. You have to take about 20 for every one that I catch that is really good. Babies don’t sit still long. Jaimee is not an EASTER bunny – she’s Gram(me)’s SPRINGTIME bunny!
Nick made it back after an interesting weekend. He hit interstate in Wyoming that was literally CLOSED to traffic. He made it home about 6 am on Monday with his pretty yellow car. He was very tired. His boss had said he could come in a few hours late – so he was able to SLEEP for about 6 hours.
Thursday night was our monthly stamping night at Tammy’s house. It worked out that when I prepared for the Methodist church ladies gathering the week before, I just happened to cut enough stuff that we were able to present the same set of cards to the group we meet with here. Only one person had been to both of the events and she was happy to make the cards a second time.
Sharon W’s order from Stampin’ UP was there and she let us play with one of her new gizmos. Circle Scissor or something like that. She wasn’t there and so it was awfully nice of her to let us play. We didn’t do a lot with it, but could see that it was really slick. I’m sure she is going to love using it. I just love gizmos!!
Last night we had a couple of couples from church over. Had invited someone else that wasn’t able to make it. Very loosely organized and unprepared. We played with Nick’s Wii game. I bowled – lost as usual – but the most fun part of the night (for me) was that we had what I thought would be a ‘short’ devotion time at the end of Sabbath. As usual I wasn’t prepared, but I think God truly stepped in and an HOUR later we finished what turned out to be a very informative and fun Bible study. We didn’t actually cover a lot of territory - but had some questions, and started looking for the answers. We had a Bible that has four versions in one, a concordance and finally resorted to GOOGLE! And we found our answers! It worked out just perfectly. (We were looking at facts surrounding the resurrection of Jesus and the people who were also resurrected at the time He was.)
Today I went to the basement – planning to work on my scrapbook of Jaimee. HA! I always get sidetracked. To date I have exactly 2 pages done. UGH! Anyway, the ‘shiny object’ that got my attention was that our storage area is/was so horrible. I started digging in there and vacuuming and putting things away neater and … I can actually WALK in there now without risking life and limb!
Then I built a set of shelves that have wheels on it. I will use it to put a lot of my crafting stuff on it. That way if we have family or friends over and want the basement to be available I can just wheel these shelves into the storage room (which now has room to do just that!!). Shut the door and voila’ we have the basement back! (Sort of.) I have all these ‘crafting’ plans. I hope to be able to actually DO that someday (soon-ish!).
Guess what I did today? Well, actually I did a couple of AWESOME (to me) things. First I put the shelves together which required some close work and reading instructions. THEN Randy was soldiering some wires and needed help. I could actually SEE well enough to help! This has been the most wonderful month! I know, I know … Jaimee and my eyes … I wear out the subject(s). But both are very super-duper cool.
I think I hear the washing machine winding to an end – so I better get my clothes taken care of and head up to bed soon. This, as most, threatens to be a busy-busy week I need my beauty sleep … BAD!! *LOL* Like THAT is gonna work!
So off I go. Have a wonderful week. Hope to hear from as many of you as have time! Kathy A it was fun to get YOUR California-side of the family update this week!!
Love to all –
Vonda

Ludke-ville 4/3/09

Hello All –
We have had some fun Jaimee time this week. Rhiannon, Jaimee and the pups came down last Friday evening to spend the night. Ryan had to work so Rhiannon thought they’d be here in the a.m. so they could go to church with us.
That was fun! I couldn’t BELIEVE how much Jaimee had grown since the week before. I’m not so sure she’s grown LENGTHWISE, but certainly chubby wise. She has little rolls here and there and getting cuter by the day! (I promise I’m NOT prejudiced! Seriously, I’m NOT!!!)
We spent Sabbath together. Ate Swiss Steaks (vegetarian) and mashed taters and corn and green beans for lunch. That was good. In the late afternoon we (Randy and I) went to Deb and Greg Ludwig’s home for small group. By that time large snowy flakes had begun tumbling from the sky. As we drove the bypass we could tell the roads were getting slippery. So Randy called Rhiannon and said she should leave right away before it got dark, OR spend another night.
As it turns out they spent another night! We had a really yummy fried vegetable scallops for our supper. Way more grease than anyone should have – but so delicious! We don’t do this very often. A special treat now and again!
In the morning we FINALLY stamped the baby’s little feetie prints on the underside of the lid of her own little Longaberger basket. We should have done that weeks ago – but Gram(me), like always was slow getting around to it!
All Sunday I kept saying I needed to get prepared for a special card-making thing my friend Tammy and I were asked to do for one of the local Methodist church and I finally got down there to the basement and worked on that project and also a project for an event sponsored by our Employee Recognition Committee for the City. I very much wanted to get the City project off of my ‘to-do’ list so I could take them (I made 2) to City Hall and get them out of here. But alas, around 11:00 pm on Sunday night when I was having a little more trouble with the last one than I had planned on … I gave up and finished it on Monday.
I had my 2nd eye surgery scheduled for April 1st. NOT a good idea to try to get everything accomplished for the end of the month/beginning of the month. I should have taken a date a week down the line. But I wanted it done as soon as possible. And WOW!!!
I thought the results from eye #1 were awesome – I am BLOWN AWAY with the second one. They did my eyes so I can do most c lose up stuff with the left eye and far away stuff with the right eye. That’s how Randy does with his contacts and he likes it a lot. I wasn’t sure I would like it – and had decided I’d listen to the dr.’s advice and wear glasses to correct whatever wasn’t good. I honestly haven’t had anything I couldn’t do with my eyes just as they are! I’m loving seeing dimension, and detail, and light and crisp clear images. NO MORE FOG over the eye. I’m SO thankful and happy.
There is a downside though! I had NO IDEA how nasty our house had gotten. Oh yeah, in some ways I knew … but I had no clue there were so many cobwebs and dust bunnies and smudgy light switch covers and … YIKES! So I’ve been going around with the vacuum and a spray bottle and cloth trying to take a bite out of grime!
Our stamping with the Methodist church ladies was fun. There were seven ladies and one 10 year old girl. That little 10 year old did a GOOD job and was fast. She ended up helping some of the older ladies. GOOD helper! I was glad she was there! My first thought when I knew a little kid was going to be there was … oh no!! But it turned out VERY nice. I know Sharon – I can HEAR you wondering what projects did they do??? http://www.vondasvine.com/photo/stampinginstructions.pdf Check them out! You have some of the stamps, I know! And your circle cutter is here TEMPTING us!
This morning I took Nick to Cedar Rapids where he boarded an airplane bound to McKenna, Washington. He bought a car out there and went out to drive it back. We’re waiting still to hear from him. He’s been good about touching bases with us at each point – Chicago, Denver, and when he touched down in Seattle. The car dealership was going to pick him up and take him to the dealership. This is where we’re having trouble with contact.
He probably has his phone off still or maybe it’s bad reception where he is at. Randy called the dealership and they said someone was to have picked him up and they anticipated they’d be there in about 15 minutes. That was about 15 minutes ago. They were going to have him call when he got there. We just want to be sure he is okay and that they didn’t mug him and take his check from the bank and leave him in a pile somewhere.
He’s a man, I know – but he’s OUR LITTLE BOY, so we have to worry about him. His plan (the worrying continues!) is to hop in and drive straight thru home. I don’t think our boy realizes how far it is from there to here. It’s been an adrenalin filled day with new experiences and making connections and everything – I know he is wise enough (and he promised Mom(me) that he would stop if he got way to tired or if the weather was really treacherous (as the weatherman is saying it will be).
This is what he is picking up and driving home. It’s cute. It’s called an EVO. (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution) – and yellow is one of the rarest colors of this car.

Bonus of driving Nick to Cedar Rapids is the I could stop by and hold our baby for a little while on the way home. That was fun and she had changed even in FIVE DAYS.
Hey Kathy M – thank you so much for the lovely card and nice gift you sent me. You didn’t need to, but I loved it and appreciated your thoughtfulness so much!
I got a haircut this week and it is awful. It doesn’t look any better than it did before. I need a magic wand and some hair coloring. I have the hair coloring, I am still working on the magic wand part.
You know what I’m going to do now? I’m going to ‘google’ Jesus last week. I was listening to WDLM today and they were talking about Easter. It got me thinking … what does the Bible say happened in the days prior to his crucifixion? Each step of the way … He did it for me (and you) … or did I do it to Him? Thank you Jesus for carrying MY cross!
Take care – look forward to hearing from anyone who cares to say ‘howdy’ this week! Time for more eye drops. It’s not the drops I hate so much – but they leave a bad taste in my MOUTH. Weird, huh?
Love to all –
Vonda

Ludke-ville 3/20/09

Greetings from Iowa!
The graphic above is a tribute to a successful driving adventure that I enjoyed today with my SIL Bellie.
In the Philippines, Bellie was able to utilize public transportation and she didn’t need to drive. Now she is in America and has decided that though it works OK, public transportation is not the ideal way to travel to her favorite store! GOODWILL!! She is an avid Goodwill shopper and has a beautifully decorated home that demonstrates her sharp eye.
So I convinced her, after hearing about her previous driving instructor, and … well, if you are married you can imagine that pulling your own teeth out one by one sans Novocain is almost preferable to the excruciating pain of enduring the dread ‘back-seat-driver’ of a husband turned driving instructor… ‘nuf said!
So after my dentist appointment today, which coincidentally WAS Novocain free, Bellie and I took off. She did very well and I know I enjoyed the beautiful day and the good company and … we both lived to tell the story and TA-DA!! We’ll do it again soon!
All in all – I would rate this week as a 10.9 (out of a possible 10). Why? It’s easy. My cataract surgery on Wednesday was the greatest thing EVER! It was fun! I didn’t expect it to be a big hairy deal and wasn’t nervous about it ahead of time. I just didn’t expect it to be so fun!
I had to be there at 6:45 am. They showed me a recliner in a room of recliners. Randy made sure I was in good hands and left. The nurse got my eye dilated, my vitals taken and my gown (over my clothes) and then I basically waited. The dr. eventually came in and magic markered my eye so he'd know which one. (More on that later)

Then I waited my turn. This dr. does 8-10 surgeries in a morning. WOW!! $$cha-CHING$$ Of course there is a lot of hospital staff there, but I'm thinking I'm gonna see a bill from that side of things too. So I guess $$cha-CHING$$ still holds.

They took me into the operating room in a wheelchair. Whee!!! and I climbed on the gurney. Got positioned with my head on the little head thing. Then the person in there says "I'm going to put a little tape on your forehead. Okay? Well, she proceeds to TAPE ME TO THE TABLE! All the way round my head and under the table - at least that's what I think she did. I asked her "Are you taping me to the table?" She said she was! I wanted to laugh so bad. I told them that it was just too funny of a mental picture!

The surgery was sort of cool. I've never done drugs, but PSYCHEDELIC KALEIDOSCOPE was what I've named my surgery! Started by seeing the little colored light in the shape of a mushroom (THERE should have been the clue!). It was entertaining.

I called Randy when I got done so he could come get me. They took my vitals again, fed me a couple pieces of toast and gave me drops and instructions to go with it all. Then I came home!

I took a little nap, because they did give just a little med in my IV that made me relaxed, not out of it but relaxed.
I went back the next day at 10:30 am SOOOO happy because my world had visually changed. Before the surgery it was like looking thru a lens with a grey tinted Vaseline over it. You could see there was something on the other side, but the image was not clear. Turns out my eye now has 20/30 vision (and that’s with the basic lens that my insurance pays for – nothing enhanced).
I told Dr. B that I wanted the other one done right away. He looked at it and tho it does have a cataract he didn’t think it was big enough to warrant surgery (which I interpreted as ‘your insurance won’t make my house payment for that’). He said he’d have the test run to be sure tho. And I failed the test – which means my insurance WILL make his house payment! So I’m scheduled for April 1st on eye number two.
I wore my contact lens in my non-operated eye today and it has actually better vision than the operated one, not a lot – but it is better. It’s just a greyer image and sort of foggy. Hard to explain. Still want the surgery to brighten things!
The one thing I’m ‘dealing with’ is that I can’t rub on or around my eye. So HOW do I get the SHARPIE mark (about the size of half of a dime off of my eye? They said it will be gone in a few days. Okay, I repeat HOW DO I GET IT OFF NOW???? It’s not AS obvious as it was the first day, but it’s still there.
On Thursday evening my mom and a lady we’ve known forever put together a really wonderful seminar on BAKING BREAD. They worked so very hard getting it all planned and coordinated. I couldn’t have been more impressed!! The samples were yummy and the recipes look good (I like to bake bread when I DO bake). Of course my mom never does anything ½ way – so it was great.
They did it in one of my units at the Welch Apartments. The apartment is located just off the community room and had a real ‘cooking show’ feel to it.
Nick is not feeling well this week. He came home tonight and slept on the couch until about 9:30 pm, ate a sandwich and then went up to bed. I think he’ll live, but miserable in the interim. Hope he doesn’t make ME sick. (I’m a selfish mom(me) aren’t I?)
Probably everyone at the club will be sick too – but he has faithfully gone to infect them each day.
We are all elated to announce that Nick’s puppy TIDAS has finally gotten the idea of potty training. He is actually asking US to take him out. Previously we were watching him with eagle eye and taking him out every 12 ½ minutes or so.
Auntie Joy, Cousin Maggie and a lady from church (Lynn Tavener) had a wonderful shower for Rhiannon on Sunday. Wow! This little Jaimee girl … she is taken care of for several months. Such pretty little clothes she received and a nice quilt and some other blankies … tho Aunt Mary’s pretty crocheted one is the one that accompanies her wherever she goes.
Several (three) of Rhiannon’s college friends were able to be here (from Lincoln, Virginia and Tennessee) and one of her forever friends from next door on 5th Street was there (with her 3 little ones!!). It was great!
I hadn’t seen Jaimee for nearly a week – and she’d changed SO much. Crazy Uncle Nick saw her during the week and proclaimed her “such a cute baby”.
Well, look-ee at the time. It’s late. One of the unfortunate benefits of improved vision is that I can see that I truly DO need beauty sleep more than ever. I’ll have to tape my blue eye shield over my eye and head to bed! I have one more drop to put in here in a minute first tho.
I hope you all had a SPEC-tacular week, I know I did!
Love to all. Hope to hear from you if you have time!
V

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