Word Filled Wednesday

(not literally referring to anyone by the name of Bob, I believe someone had recently seen the old Bill Murray movie)










(driveway resurfacing by I.T., chalk artists: visiting nieces and nephews, the 2 sisters, Fash and me)

Project 365- First Time Participant

I finished reading Breakfast at Sally’s a few weeks ago. Richard LeMieux began plunking out his autobiography on an old manual typewriter, while sitting at a picnic table in a city park. I have sometimes made the mistake of generalizing that if a person living on the streets really wanted to, he could certainly find a job and improve his quality of life- there are plenty of agencies available to help with this process, right? But this book reminded me that the answer to homelessness is more complicated than simply finding a homeless person a job. Often that person has a deeper need and may not even be able to handle a job. A pastor from a United Methodist Church knew this. He simply let Richard and his companion, a fluffy, white dog, sleep on a couch in the hallway outside the youth room in the basement of his church and eat finger sandwiches, leftover from funeral dinners, out of the kitchen fridge when they got hungry. There’s not much glamour in life on the streets, but there sure is abundant opportunity there for those, who live in secure houses with plenty to eat, to share a listening ear, a cup of coffee or a warm blanket. The book has inspired me to get involved with ministry to the homeless in our city.

Now I’m absorbed in John Elder Robison’s autobiography, as he describes growing up with Asperger’s- before anyone had a name for it. I guess this is the summer of autobiographies for me. I love reading true stories straight from the horse's mouth- especially the ones that help me to appreciate social and economic circumstances that are different from my own.

While many bloggers share beautiful pictures of the home projects they are working on, such as painting their walls tango mango or harvesting delicious fruits of their gardening labor, I regret that I have, so far, only been able to offer you the picto-story about I.T. and I roto-rooting and now this:

Re-surfacing the driveway.

I help by taking off the lid and stirring the goo.

I.T. pours on the latex.

He spreads it evenly over every square inch of the existing driveway from the garage to the street. I didn't actually
take a picture of the finished work, because it was after midnight when he began erecting a yellow caution tape border around the perimeter, so nobody would inadvertently drive in and park
on it before it was fully dry.

For three days our driveway looked like a crime scene- the neighbor kids asked, "what happened in your driveway?!" I tried to ease the tension by suggesting we all grab our fattest pieces of bright colored sidewalk chalk and go draw all over it. After all, it is now the perfect canvas for that sort of project. Those pictures and story will be forthcoming.




Here is a signature I.T. project. We had a leak in a water hose under the concrete edging of our pool. We had to cut a hole in the concrete to get to the hose to fix the leak. But how to patch the hole? That was the puzzler. It was going to cost mucho goosto moolah to fill the hole and match the concrete with what already existed, because that existing concrete has a special surface over all of it that makes it more slip proof. So, I.T. bought this garden stone, filled the hole with regular concrete powder he mixed with water in a wheelbarrow and fitted the stone just right so it lays flush with the rest of the edging. The neighbor kids who swim here have never asked, "hey, what happened to your concrete decking?" So, I guess we're good.

You may be saying to yourself, "Hmm, we sure are up on I.T.'s projects, now where are Heidi's projects?" This is a good question. I'm going to leave you now with a beautiful flower picture. Check out the back legs on this bug!

Julie and Julia- Two Thumbs Up

I'm not even going to cruise around and read the blogs before I post this, because I know everyone who had a date night tonight probably saw this movie. So, we will be writing the same post, but that's okay.

Meryl, the timeless classic, was wonderful, as usual and Amy Adams' lines sounded very familiar to me- blogger that she became. It was a clean movie except when Julie dropped a raw chicken spilling stuffing on her kitchen floor and when Stanley Tucci seemed to break character for one quick, random blurt of the "F" word.

The fact that the movie intertwines true stories about two different women, both searching for something meaningful and interesting to do, peaked my interest from the start. As these storylines unfold, the movie works beautifully to the end. Blogging and French cooking and blogging about French cooking and having the whole thing turn into a book and a movie deal- well, that would make me jump up and down on my front porch.

All the way home, I thought about food. When I got home I had to clean up my kitchen from dinner; we left in a flurry to get to the movie on time, as I.T. was rushing home from helping a friend roof his house, quickly showering... I thought about food the whole time I was doing the dishes. When I was done washing the last pan, I couldn't help but mix up some almond butter made with flax seed oil and calcium enriched chocolate syrup- stir in some crushed peanuts and sliced banana, dollop a tablespoon of fat free whipped cream on top and enjoy my signature ice creamless banana split. And I did that with a French accent. Then I just had to come down here and blog all about it.

Go see the movie and let me know what you think.

A Tribute to My Bloggies

Andrea over at Arise to Write dedicated this Neno's award to all of her blogfriends and I'd like to take a moment to do the same. Being a blogger has become my favorite past time- writing one and reading all of yours. Who knew there were so many excellent writers out there living with the love of the Saviour and yearning to share their life and that love with others! Incredible. Your blogs are funny and inspiring and heartfelt and encouraging. I think about what it would be like to have a big, worldwide blog party, where all the bloggers in my circle and in the circles of my bloggers would gather for coffee or tea or bottled water- whichever you prefer- and laugh and hug and sit a spell. We wouldn't have to spend a dime on name tags. Maybe someday....

Anyway, to all my followers- thank you for making me feel like some sort of author or something by signing up and saying "hey, I think I'll read your blog again sometime". Every time that happens I just sit in front of the new icon- photo, picture or empty silhouette-doesn't matter- and stare at it with a big smile on my face and exclaim out loud, "I got another one!" It's truly better than catching a king salmon on Lake Michigan for me. I know my husband and many others will not ever understand that, but perhaps you do.

If you follow my blog, grab the award and place it on your blog, if you have one. After reading all of your blogs, I honestly cannot choose one over the other that is more inspiring, more encouraging or funnier- they are all completely amazing and unique. Never before have I experienced anything like this blogworld. Thank you for being part of mine.

Oat Bran on the Beach?

I like the beach. That's where you soak up some sun, stroll in the surf and eat snacks, right? Not on the South Beach, you don't. When Dr. Knowitall gave I.T. 6 months to bring down his cholesterol with exercise and diet, we headed to the South Beach. Phase one, we cannot eat baked goods of any kind, cereals of any kind, hot or cold, milk, cheese or butter, fruit of any kind, bacon, pasta, rice, anything that comes in a package, soup, sweeteners (except agave nectar- we can have that), potatoes, beets, butternut squash or fruit juice or soda. I.T. cannot eat eggs.

Sunday night we dipped our tilapia fish fillet in a little puddle of rainwater and dredged it in chopped parsley fresh from the garden. Then we steamed seventeen green beans and dabbed some agave nectar on them to see what that would taste like, because we can have agave nectar. We split the entire meal between us and went for a 45 minute bike ride. Dr. Agatston, M.D. says in his book, we should not be hungry. We must have done it wrong. We had to order pizza.

Monday we backed it up to 1989- pulled out the #1 New York Times Bestseller, The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure, revised edition, left the beach and baked up some bran muffins. We ate two for breakfast, one for lunch, three for dinner. Rounded it out with some fruit and turkey sandwiches- on whole wheat. According to Mr. Kowalski's book, that should be good for a subtraction of two points divided by two people off the total cholesterol count for each of us.

Today, while driving home on my fourth to the last day of being the manager of the bookstore where I work, I ate an entire bag of Costco, organic ,chocolate chip cookies with pecans. Lucky for me, the oat bran diet allows nuts. (No pun intended, of course)

Adoption- the great gift!

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:14-17

Adoption is an immeasureable gift!

(photo by Tangible Sentiments Photography)

RIFF RAFF Review

Grab your toothbrush, a bike and your Hawaiian hairpiece and come with me to RIFF RAFF 2009 in Holly, Michigan. We'll be camping at Groveland Oaks county park in Oakland County.

Enough food and supplies to make three breakfasts, one lunch and two dinners for 75 people, clothes, bedding, camp chairs and toiletries for four, soccer balls and Hawaiian gear are all stuffed in the back of I.T.'s truck.

Four bikes, the propane tank, a table and tikki torches hauled behind in Grandpa's trailer.




Does this tire look flat to you?



Just under two hours later.... welcome to I.T.'s kitchen!

Unload the truck.


Relatives and friends arrive late into the night. They've come from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida and Arizona. Where are you joining us from?Up early each morning to fry up some pancakes, bacon and eggs on the griddle. Meet I.T.- my muscleman, brother-in-law, Joe and Uncle Jim.

Feeding the multitudes. Plenty for everyone!

Aunt Carol fashioned a quilt out of all the t-shirts we've had made over the years. It's not just a reunion, it's a wardrobe. This year's shirt- lime green with a Survivor logo- everyone gets a shirt, but lucky lil' Joey got the whole enchilada shorts pantsuit.
Survivor team #1- AMOHA-derived from the first letter of each of their first names. Fash is in the orange headband. Survivor team #2- Natty Light- derived from the name of a favorite beverage of one of my cousins- working on winning the first challenge. Get the team over the finish line. Every member must keep both feet on a carpet square at all times. If any foot touches the gravel drive, it's back to start. Team AMOHA returned to start three times, losing the challenge. It was time to vote one team member off the island.

Sister, A, and brother-in-law explain the next challenge. Grandma holds up the prize- a $100 bill.

Fash found the immunity in the woods, so did not get voted off after round one. Challenge #2- your teammate throws water from the lake to you. Catch as much as you can and dump it into the bucket at the end of the stick, when the stick falls from the weight of the water, it raises your flag. First flag up wins! My dad made this contraption.






Fash did not come out the winner on this one.

The stew! Yummy.

Seventy-five aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins once removed, 3rd cousins twice returned, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, spouses (one husband per one wife, just to clarify)- all being fed....not just the bodies... ...but the souls of each are nourished, as we share together the happenings of our lives and the care we have for each other. This is love. Love on bikes! Preparing to ride the 8 mile, paved trail in Oakland County- around a lake, some hills involved. Some ride in comfort. Some ride in style.
All ride in fun! Thus the name, RIFF RAFF (Ride In Fun For Relatives And Family Friends)
Luncheon on the lawn after the ride. I.T. is chillin', he did not have to cook this meal!
Strap on your coconuts and shake your grass, it's Luau time! The Birthday girl hula's at 80 like a pro. My niece and I try to keep up.Food prepsters.

Almost the whole gang- I'm front row, third from the left, Fash is 6th in, holding her cousin and I.T. is waaay in the background on the left, cutting up roasted pig.
Do the limbo! Hawaiian music playing on the boom box. Sister and brother-in-law, our activity coordinators, hold the stick. Only two Survivors left in the game, this one explains how he will spend the money if he wins, but pleads with his former teammates to vote for Josh- his opponent.
Josh wins the $100!

Sunday morning we gather 'round to worship God, to listen to scripture readings and to pray. The bass line. The children's choir.



It's hard to say good-by, the weekend is too short, the time between visits- too long. I.T. packs a much lighter load for the ride home.

So that's RIFF RAFF, everyone is always welcome!

I leave you with a shot of my Hawaiian hairpiece.