July 14-20, 2019 More Silkie Roosters, Super Hot, First Paycheck, Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susan's, and Daisies

July 14-20, 2019 

More Silkie Roosters, Super Hot, First Paycheck,  
Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susan's, and Daisies

Hello Friends,

I think the biggest news of the week, besides the new roosters, was the awful heat!  



Living in Grand Rapids for four years now my body has acclimated itself to being in cooler temps, compared to Indiana. 



 Our air condition works through our very old geothermal system and that is way more expensive to run than electric air conditioning.  



So, we didn't turn on our A/C until late Thursday.  The A/C made a huge difference, even when set high, just to get a break from all the humidity, which had been around 98%.

Sunday Church:

Dd and I went to Ada Bible Church again, our fourth visit.  Last Sunday Giz and Grampy were visiting so we all stayed home. 



 I watched the sermon from last week online after they went home. This week continued the theme of "Dinner With Jesus." 



 I've really been getting so much from the sermons.  It feels like a college-level class; very deep and intellectual.  



I still struggle every day with losing my old church and the wonderful people that I grew close with, but I am thankful for good sermons that help lessen the blow.  I know we are not alone.  The hardest part is that we've received a few cards from friends at our old church, some telling me to "forgive" and come back.  It's hard to explain, and I don't even try, to say I forgave the first day of conflict.  I don't have the skills to handle this situation, that is for sure.  




Ada Bible Bible Study: 
I signed up for a small women's group reading and discussing In His Image by Jen Wilkin.  Last week I didn't go b/c we had G&G visiting.  Then this week our group was canceled b/c so many of our group wasn't going to be able to attend.  I'm still enjoying reading this book even if I'm not getting to discuss it much. 

The blackish one is Radagast The Brown, The grayish one is Gandalf the Gray, and the white one is Gandalf the White

Chickens: Silkies
Our friends, the "G" family contacted me on Monday to say they thought another one of their new (3 1/2 month of Silkies) birds was a rooster and would need a new home.  They live in the city of Grand Rapids and legally aren't allowed to have roosters, just hens.  So on Wednesday I drove to GR and picked up an all white Silkie rooster, which we ended up naming "Gandalf the White."  



The next day they texted to say another chicken is a rooster!  So, Thursday I met them at Costco to get a gray Silkie rooster from them, which we named, "Gandalf the Gray."  They only have two hens left and they are positive those last two are girls!  I can't take any more!  But, Chelle has always told me how much I'd love Silkies, so I'm glad I am finally getting to know these chatty birds.

Ms. Lemon, the Bantam hen.  She is doing very well right now---all broodiness is gone and she is laying eggs.

I named her Jen Wilkin, after the author of the book I've been reading the past few weeks: In His Image.

Chickens:
The chickens are doing pretty good.  Chickens don't do as well in the hot temperatures so they aren't ideal, but they are hanging in there.



Pool:
Last week we finally got the pool clear enough to swim.  This week was so extremely hot and humid it was nice to have the option of cooling off in the water.  Dh even went swimming this week!  He didn't get in at all last year, so this was great!



Deck:
I've been getting some painting done on the deck this week. 



 It was such a hot and humid week that I didn't get as much done as I wanted. 



 Luckily, I'm not in a rush and know this job isn't a hurry.



Garden:



The Japanese Beetles have really been challenging my picking skills!  

Feeling Mary Poppins

It's just amazing how many can show up; they seem to like the grapevines the most.

The Foxglove that I moved in the spring are doing SO well!  I'm so glad I moved them so I could focus on them and give them a little extra care.  They have really flourished with the attention!

Weeding is on-going.  I've been sharing a lot of my greens with the chickens.  They just love anything from the garden.




Trimmed Grape Vines:
When I picked up the Silkie rooster, Radagast, from the "G" family I got an impromptu lesson on pruning grapevines.  I took that info home and have been working to improve the growth of my plant.



Air Conditioning:
We had to turn on the A/C for a few days this week (Thursday-Sunday) due to the high humidity and hot temperatures.  It was really nice being cool!  

The white hen here is, Charlotte.  She had been broody for most of the spring, with Ms. Lemon.  She is doing very well now and has a whole new coat of feathers. 

Dd Academic and Life Progress:



First Paycheck:
Dd got her first paycheck from working at the pizza shop the last two weeks!  She is so excited!  She LOVES working at the pizza place and with the other teens.

Henny Penny on the look-out!

Photography Focus:
We picked up her photographs from Walgreen's this week.  She talked with Dh to get some ideas on how to improve her skills.  She is really keen on photography this summer.

Aphrodite and Bella

New Friend: Helen
Dd went with her new work friend, Helen, to the movies to see the newest Spider-Man movie.  



Swimming:
Hailee over to swim.

Academics:  
To be honest, Dd's motivation this week was really low.  She didn't get very far on either of her subjects.  We are in a difficult phase.  I don't have all the answers, but keep reminding her of what she should be doing and hoping she will right herself and *want* to focus on her lessons.  You can lead a horse to water...



Reader:
The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon: In Process

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Science:
Apologia: Biology (not much, unfortunately!)

Now it is coneflower, daisy, and black-eyed Susan's weather

Math:
Saxon Algebra (not much, unfortunately!)



Next Week:
Dd starts her new office job.  She doesn't seem to be very excited about this opportunity.  I'm going to TRY and get the hens to accept the roosters without getting the roosters attacked.  I go pretty slow but would hate for the roosters to get really hurt.

..........

July 7-13, 2019 G&G Home, Meeting Richard, Phone Interview, Lake Michigan Trip, Silkie Rooster

July 7-13, 2019
G&G Home, Meeting Richard, Phone Interview, Lake Michigan Trip, Silkie Rooster, SUNFLOWERS BLOOMING!

 Let All That You Do

Be Done In Love
1 Cor. 16:44
  


Hello Friends!
Giz and Grampy (Dh's parents) are still visiting us, at least for a few more days.  They will go home on Monday. 

Chelle and her daughter love sunflowers, so each year I try to post some flower pix j

 It has been a really good visit.  They have been really supportive of our church problem and talking over it with us each day. 



 We honestly really needed, very much, a visit from them.  



It was so necessary to sit with them and share all the details of our church problems with them and their years of wisdom to discern things.  



Their church just took on a new, young minister about two months ago and could relate to some of our issues. 



 But, Grampy has literally gone to this church his whole life (except his few years of service in the Army).  



They haven't had any problems with their elders or pastors believing differently than they believe, no issues with legalism or the like.  G&G were very open to spending as much time as we needed each day to process our thoughts.

Agnes, helping us with the floor.

The Secret Place (Judson Press):

Normally G&G goes to church with us, but I got the impression they didn't want to go to Ada Bible (they are a small church type and Ada is a BIG church type) so we did our devotions together at home this week.

 Ice Cream:

On Sunday we went to our local soft-serve ice cream shop, Ball's.  The best part of Ball's isn't their ice cream but sitting out in their gardens!  So pretty to sit among all their flowers.




Grilled:
I've never met anyone that loved grilled hot dogs and hamburgers more than Giz!  Grampy loves it too, but Giz really lives for her hot dogs. 



Chickens:
Guess what?!!  Charlotte isn't broody any more!  When I opened the coop Monday morning there was Charlotte!  She was among the first to come out!  She *had* been obsessively staying inside the nest box on top of straw; not eating or drinking for weeks.  Almost every day I brought her out and put her in an outside tractor with her own food and water.  She was always very hungry and obviously needed the push each day to try and get over her broodiness.  Yay!  I successfully got both Charlotte and Ms. Lemon off being broody this summer, not an easy task! Not by far!
*Ms. Lemon started laying eggs again this week!



 New Silkie Rooster:
*Silkie?  Kim, a friend I made when Dd was doing homeschool marching band in Grand Rapids, contacted me last week asking if I was interested in adopting a rooster Silkie she had been raising since a baby.  They live in city limits and the rule there is that you can only own/keep hens...no roosters!  



I had been internally debating back and forth for days when she called me.  We talked it over and she encouraged me by sharing this rooster is very loving and kind.



On Friday, Dd and I drove to their house to pick him up.  He is a very funny looking bird--a "showbird," "Silkie Frizzle".  He has a long, bald neck!  



No feathers on his neck! really odd looking! We've named him: RADAGAST (think Lord of the Rings...)
 This summer they bought five Silkies and they are concerned perhaps two more of their flock may be roosters too!  So, maybe next week I'll have more?




Garden:
The garden is doing really well.  I *really* need to start blanching and freezing the kales and swiss chards!!!  I've just been so very busy.  The Japanese Beetles have arrived in mass.  I've begun removing them to save my plants---especially my grape vines and green beans.  I'm SO thankful my lettuce is doing so well, I eat lots of it while I can.  I know it won't last the summer. 




Lake Michigan/Kirk Park:
On Tuesday, Hailee came over at 8:40 AM and we loaded up the car for our adventure. 



 Henry is afraid of car rides so I didn't feed him breakfast; hoping to prevent him from throwing up. Well...I sat in the back seat with him and tried to reassure him but he still ended up throwing up three times on our drive out to the lake.  Once at the lake he made it clear he wasn't willing to have even a toe touch the water!!!  He said right under my umbrella and didn't budge!  After about 3-4 hours he walked up and down the beach with me for very short jaunts.  

Henry, being miserable...forced to visit the beach.

When we left around 3 PM he still had never got a toe wet!  So completely different than the labs we always have had. 




 He was pretty good and didn't complain, he just didn't have a very good time.  



Dd and Hailee had a lot of fun.  They spent some time in the water, took pictures, snacked...  It was a beautiful day.



 Deck:
I've been power spraying the top deck this week. 



 It is a lot harder hanging off or leaning forward and over the rails than when I was just spraying the fence around the pool. 


 I've also continued to make some progress painting on some parts of the deck/fence too.  



I knew this was going to be a big project, but I hoped Dd would be helping me a little.  



Now that she has a job she is too busy to help with my projects so it is taking a lot longer than I hoped.



  I think I am about to the halfway mark though.  



Some days are just too hot to sit or stand in the direct sun to paint. 



 I bet August will be better for painting---BUT, hopefully, our new flooring will be in by then and I might be too busy working on that!  It will all get done...eventually!!!




Richard & Penny:
Wednesday was the latest "Worship Meeting" and we were actually reminded by a Teresa and Penny to come.  We knew during the last meeting, exactly a month ago, that that was our last meeting.  I politely declined the invitation.  Then on Thursday, Penny invited Dd and I to meet her and her husband, Richard for lunch to discuss what had happened at the last meeting while they were out of state.  Friday we meet with them and openly discussed ALL the things that had been said to us, in detail, for two and half hours!!  Boy, it felt like a weight had been taken off my shoulders by finally getting to tell our Worship Meeting leader all that was said while he was away.  I felt like I officially passed the baton and he said he would take it from there.  I'd really been searching for closure and by the end of the lunch I felt like I had received that closer I needed.  Dd did a great job speaking up and sharing her heart as much as I did.  She really does a great job communicating her feelings, of which I'm thrilled.  Richard did a good job of really hearing me and not asking me to put my principals to the side.  I appreciated how they were just as involved in the discussion and were willing to spend all the time going through all the problems one by one.  It was a blessing to me.




Dd's Academic and Various Progress:

Phone Interview: Accounting Office
Dd's math teacher recommended Dd to her husband when he mentioned he needed more office help. This would be at his accounting office.  Dd was SO nervous about the phone interview he scheduled for this week.  Surprisingly, Dd said he was very laid back and easy to talk to!  She got the job and will start work in a few weeks.  We aren't sure she can do two jobs, but she can see what an office job is like and she can decide.




Employment: Pizza Shop
Pizza Shop job is going really well.  She really likes working there and being so challenged when it is super busy.




Art:
Watercolor: Dd continues to be enjoying making art
Photography: Dd continues to improve in photography 




Audio:
The Romanoff Empress by C. W. Gortner: COMPLETED



Reader: 
The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon: In Process

Physical Exercise: 
Swam, first time this year!! 2 hours




Next Week:
Now that our pool is working, I am hoping we can spend more time in it!!!  Hoping Dd will get back to her Science and Math next week.


"If your mouth is open, your not learning."
-Buddha


......