The Ups and Downs of Falling in Love

Our thoughts and daily routines have been all consumed by organs and bike races lately. The bike race this past weekend went well - Hubby and Daughter came home with nice prizes. The award for men was a glass mug with and the women were awarded very cool handcrafted necklaces. If you look closely you can see them in the picture. The necklace is a stone with a bike charm on top...lovely!

Our son came home for the weekend to race - he didn't place, but had a good ride with no mishaps. It was so good having him home and he and I were able to have some one on one time that I treasure.  He even got my scanner working on my printer - so hopefully when it comes time, I'll remember what he told me to do.

As far as the organ update goes, we had a committee meeting regarding the Rodgers model - our choir director had a guest in town that joined us because his church recently purchased a second hand organ and he was able to share first hand what they went through. He recommended someone that we called and they said they heard good things about the company we were dealing with so it was decided a special business meeting would be called to vote on purchasing that organ. Our associate pastor was out of town for

the committee meeting. I shared all this information with my mentor and after seeing a picture of the organ he told us a local church has the exact same model, so this afternoon Hubby and I made an appointment to see it. The church was so kind to let us in to play with it for a while. I FELL IN LOVE!! I loved the touch, feel, sound even more than the brand new one I played a few weeks ago. I felt so at home at that organ. When we came home, our pastor was there looking for an update on the organ...he didn't know we had just come from playing one. I was finally able to get him excited about the purchase because he saw how much I loved it. It seemed at that moment as though I had my organ - all that was left was the church approving it at the Sunday meeting. HOWEVER...Pastor Tony went back to the church with a picture of the organ in his hand to "pray over it" and then he called the company just to reassure himself because there were some things that were "raising red flags" to him. To make a long story short, he found out some things we hadn't seen. I won't go into detail just because it will take so long, but suffice it to say, we won't be buying that organ or dealing with that company EVER!

I'm so disappointed, I almost cried. Hubby said he feels like he would if he had asked me to marry him and I said no LOL. It does feel a little like a break-up of sorts. Now the search continues and I am bone weary of it. 

Speaking of bones, I was at the chiropractor again today - three times in three weeks. The ribs seem to be holding now, but the shoulder blade still bothers me when I practice and my hips went out again...WAY OUT. Even Hubby looked at me this morning and told me I was crooked as if I hadn't already figured that out LOL. I'm in for now, but my lower back is complaining about being messed with. I also have an allergic reaction to something affecting my eye. The combination of all three is exhausting and I'm ready for my recliner and a glass of wine. I've had enough of this day, thank you. 

I just had a little visitor...the neighbor dog came and said hello through the studio window screen. The neighbor girl (my student) is home alone this week as her family had to go back to CO for some things and she had to stay behind for cross-country practice and to take care of the dog. I went out to make sure Renee knew where Grettle was and before I knew it she was talking my ear off - even though she's staying nights with another family, the poor thing is lonely in that big house all by herself. 

There was one bright spot in my week. I went down the hill to practice - oh that organ just washes away so much - cleans out the cobwebs and makes me feel like me again. I practiced for 2 hours - David came in, we talked for an hour about the organ meeting at church, then I played a piece for him and his comment was: "Oh Julie, that was so well done, that is what I have wanted to hear from you for the past 20 years. It's not that it was perfect, there were mistakes, as you know, but rather than correct them, you just worked them in as part of the music, the pauses were part of the beauty and were actually very calming to me as a listener". That meant so much to me to hear him say that...I can't even tell you how much! 

Here are some pictures of one of my geraniums - it's never looked this good in all the years I've had it. It was given to me by a student who is now finished with her four years of college and has been holding down an important job in homeland security for about three years now. Anyway, I wanted to share my two favorites of the photos I took. 

That's all for today...now...about that wine............

Race to the Finish Weekend

Thursday:
Out of bed by 6 a.m., walk Suki, breakfast, light cleaning, on the road by 8, begin my shopping day by 10 a.m....that was the plan. Unfortunately, or fortunately as the case may be, things did not go quite according to my plan. I didn't get up until 7, having not slept well the night before due to thunderstorms and other issues that kept me awake, I chose to try and get a bit more sleep so I wouldn't be groggy while driving...so I was on the road by 9ish. I had prayed for good weather since I am not a foul weather driver and they had predicted rain and thunderstorms for us. In answer to that prayer, most of the rain moved through the night before and I had a damp, cloudy morning for my trip which, was great since I was heading east so the clouds prevented the sun from being in my eyes the entire way. When was the last time you turned on the music and sang at the top of your lungs? Try it sometime...it's a great stress release!

My first stop was Michael's. It has been my dream for several years now to shop there without someone with me, hovering and commenting on my every purchase or even contemplated purchase. My dream finally came true and I enjoyed every minute! From there I headed to the mall spending most of my time in Kohl's and Fashion Bug...I came away with jewelry and one new top. I passed up the beautiful $100.00 bracelet marked down to $60.00, but oh how I wanted it! The items I did buy were on sale at greatly reduced prices...score! I also stopped at Bath and Body Works. Our store in town closed about 2 years ago and I haven't been in one since. I found a new scent I like, it's called Twilight Woods. I bought the $5.00 spray and lotion. Before I knew it, it was 5:00 and time to pick up my son. Together we had a wonderful dinner in a restaurant near the water. The appetizer, a Wisconsin Cheese Platter, was the best part of the meal! Although, the raspberry dessert we shared was very good as well. Before leaving town, he drove me through a park near the water...such a pretty spot!


Friday:
My son and I did household chores all day. We did several loads of laundry, he helped me harvest some veggies from the garden, he built a storage cart for me and we ran to the grocery store, did dishes and prepared a couple of meals ahead for the busy day to come. It was a full day and he was such a help, especially since he had put in a tough week at work and all he really wanted to do was relax. God bless him!

Saturday:
Race day! We were off and running by 8 a.m., running here and running there, doing whatever needed doing, and making sure others' were doing the jobs they had been given. In the car - out of the car - back to the house - back to the starting line - walk to the sports store - back to the starting line...this went on like this over the course of the day. Somewhere in between something...I can't remember what anymore, we stopped at a rummage sale and were surprised to find a rather odd item. I am now the proud owner of a single organ pipe!! My son and I turned and noticed it at the exact same time and I think our mouths feel open in unison as well. We stood staring at it for some time, deciding what to do when really in the back of both of our minds we knew somehow, if at all possible it had to go home with me. It's a 4' wooden flute pipe, missing it's stopper. When I asked the seller what he wanted for it he said, "so you want my whistle". I chuckled a bit and said "yes, I would like your whistle". He said, "I'll bet you have no idea what you're looking at" My son laughed and the man looked a bit confused. When I told him that it was a 4' organ pipe, probably a Bourdon flute, missing it's stopper, it was his turn to chuckle and say "well, you know even more than I do". He was asking $30.00, I talked him down to $20.00. It needs a good cleaning and I need to find a place for it to live. My mentor said, "let it tell you where to put it". At the same sale I spied a desk. Probably built in the 50's or early 60's, mid-century modern style. When we moved to the house I had to leave behind a huge oak desk I had used in the apartment and I have been using a folding table in the studio. A real desk with drawers would be so nice and this one was real hard wood, the style I love and clean and in excellent condition. I debated and left it behind, afraid it wouldn't fit, or I shouldn't spend the money. We took measurements and once at home, having a chance to think about it, I decided I wanted it after all. I spent more money than I should have this week, but with the coming of winter, I shouldn't be spending much for a while now.

Thanks to the long-winded seller at the sale, we missed everyone coming in at the finish line.

Later that afternoon was the awards ceremony for the race. Hubby and daughter got 1st place in the tandem division, her boyfriend got second place in his age division and  our associate pastor's two children both podiumed. Following that, it was out to the trails to pick up the signs and the flags. We got a good share of it done before dinner. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at one of the local restaurants that have been very supportive of the race and my Hubby's efforts. The plan was to go back to the trails after supper, but everyone was simply too tired.

Sunday:
Sunday after church we had a family dinner at home of leftovers, then I drove my son the 2 hours back to his place and another 2 hours home. It was tempting to stop at more stores on the way, but it was getting late and I figured it was best I just get myself home.
This week:
Hubby bought blueberries from a neighbor...they are huge and juicy! YUM!! He also ordered firewood and the guy has been delivering a pick-up truck load every evening. Hubby went with me to buy the desk I looked at on Saturday and helped me move it in. I love having a real desk now, it looks much neater and more professional than the folding table did. I'm also trying to catch up on things that were neglected last week like harvesting the garden and getting the studio up and running for fall. I've had a few calls, one of them actually scheduled a lesson time, the others are thinking about it. It looks like my harvesting will be postponed this afternoon, it's supposed to rain and I see the clouds approaching.

I know I have some catching up to do when it comes to reading your blogs - I hope to get to that soon.

If you've read this entire epistle, I applaud you and thank you for your interest.