THE LOWE FAMILY NEWSLETTER : VOLUME 92
JUNE 2014
Dear Family and Friends,
I am most disappointed that none of my
children called after my last blog posted to ask what was sporty,
red, low to the ground and parked in the garage! Lainee was the only
one who asked if I had a new car! At least I piqued some one's
interest with my cliff hanger ending!
The purchase of my beautiful new
machine attracted the attention of five salesman! I was determined to
have instant ignition, power steering and easy maneuvering! The first
salesman couldn't answer my questions about the model I was
considering so he asked for an associate to help me out, who enlisted
the help of a third person to check on their inventory. The floor
model was the only one left so I decided to take it. The three of
them managed to get it ready to go but became concerned about whether
or not the engine had oil. Two more salesmen joined the throng
checking the dip stick with some thinking yes and some no. They used
their cell phones to further shed light on the matter and eventually
determined that the correct amount of oil was indeed in my engine. I
was ready to go! It has been years since I garnered such attention
from so many males!
Getting my new machine home became
another problem as they doubted I could fit it in my car but of
course my new Toro, electric start, self propelled lawn mower easily
fit into my Ford Focus. They wondered how I was going to lift it out
when I got home, great neighbors I said! As soon as I pulled into my
drive way one of my them popped over, asked what I had in my trunk
and helped me get it out! I read the manual, filled it with gas,
charged the electric start battery and was ready to mow.
Unfortunately when I turned the key in
the ignition nothing happened! I tried pulling the manual cord to no
avail. Once again a kind neighbor came to the rescue explaining that
I needed to hold onto two bars to start the engine and mow and that
it helped to have a full gas tank to start. I had only filled the
tank about halfway as I didn't want to risk overfilling it - so I
added more gas and voila the engine was roaring! My boys could mow my
yard in ten minutes on the riding mower but it always seemed to have
problems starting up so I gave it to Becky and Fred and now spend an
hour mowing but will have far less maintenance issues – I hope.
Josh had another harrowing time leaving
Bolivia – as you may recall he had a horrendous departure from
Columbia awhile ago which suggests to me that he might want to stay
in the USA but he claims it's an indication that he is not meant to
leave South America. This time he was detained by Interpol along with
about another one hundred and fifty travelers suspected of being in
the country illegally. The round up made Bolivian TV and I am sure
many of you have seen the clip on Facebook where you can see my boy
being held without food or water for five hours! Thankfully he was
released as all his paperwork was in order. He is now safely back in
Orlando where he is staying with Leslee and Craig. Josh recently
became a certified technical writer so that he can freelance for
Leslee - in essence his baby sister is now his boss! I rather think
that Coryn has been displaced as the favored sister! Remember how on
any family outing the only sibling allowed to sit next to Josh was
Coryn?
Josh is planning on staying in Orlando
for awhile as he is installing bamboo flooring through out the
Remsburg's home for them – I was hoping that Josh would be
available to help me install new floors in my kitchen and master
bathroom but this may not be a possibility as he is also mulling over
helping his friends in Texas to build another greenhouse! I guess
I'll have to get some estimates! Jeremy is my only handy son left
here and he spent most of Sunday afternoon fixing my roof for me and
changing out the oil in my new mower!
Marc called me a couple of days ago to
inform me that Bryn had been staying with him for a week as he had
been sent by Black and Veatch, from his usual office in the bay area,
to one in LA and during this period he was asked to consider
transferring there permanently. Since Bryn has been in Walnut Creek
for less than a year he has made it clear that for him to accept
another transfer the company will have to make it very attractive to
do so. Apparently they have agreed to buy out his apartment lease so
it may be that Marc will have a room mate! Marc is concerned about
Bryn being in his one and only bathroom when he has urgent and
frequent needs to pee. I told him to get a bucket. Of course I took
the opportunity to mention that all his neighbors would probably be
showing up at his door with congratulatory gifts thinking that Bryn
is his life partner! You can imagine how homophobic Marc reacted! I
also mentioned that he could become a menage a trois when Sean
returns! I think the climate and having his brothers there might be
very appealing to Sean. I advised Marc to start looking for a larger
home, plus of course I'll be in moving in all too soon probably!
On Sunday May 25th we
celebrated Ava Claire's first birthday at her home with Kay and Jeff,
Jeremy's mom and her fiancee and some of their neighbors. A few days
before Coryn called and asked me to make the cake as she just
couldn't muster any enthusiasm for the project. I suggested that she
might want to order one from the bakery but she thought it would be
more special if I put something together. Since Ava Claire loves cats
I decided a kitty cake would be purrfect. I baked three strawberry
flavored cakes, two round ones for the head and body with slivers
removed to make a neck and the third cake I used for the tail and
ears. I think it was one of my more successful baking attempts, even
my boys would have to agree that from the picture it does look like a
cat!
I am not sure that Coryn thought it was
the cat's meow but she said I would be making next year's cake too as
I always come up with something “ interesting”. She told her
guests about the lady bird cake I made her one time that she referred
to as the “ butt cake” because of the pink and brown color
scheme. No appreciation for her mother's creativity!
A few weeks ago, on my way to the
mailbox, I fell straight forwards sending my letters and glasses
flying. Fortunately I saved my head by using my hands to break the
impact. My first thought was not do I need an ambulance but did any
one witness this embarrassing fall! My neighbor was hosting his bible
study group that evening so the cul de sac was full of cars but
fortunately they were all safely settled in his basement. I was up in
a painful flash and continued onto the mailbox as if nothing had
happened. Once safely back in the house I checked my injuries : I had
cut one hand and knee , badly bruised both knees and probably
sprained my left ankle. I decided an ice pack and a couple of band
aids would suffice. I was not going to the ER virtually across the
street for an examination and Xray as it was the finale of American
Idol and I was not going to miss Caleb rocking out. I knew the ER
doctor would recommend ice packs, aspirin and an ace bandage and
expect me to return for at least one follow up visit and I just don't
have time to sit in a waiting room for hours just to be told what
anyone with any common sense would already know. Of course several of
my children didn't seem to have the same faith in my medical acumen
as I do but as always I convinced myself that Mother knows best. A
month later it is still a tad swollen but .....
Despite my swollen and throbbing foot I
was summoned by Coryn to baby sit Ava Claire while she was up on
scaffolding painting, tissue papering, and adding a metallic finish
and glaze to create a feature wall in her soaring two story entry
way. It seemed to me that I actually spent more time on the
scaffolding handing a sponge or paint loaded brush to Coryn than I
did with Ava Claire who was not happy to see us towering over her -
she loudly protested being ignored. I tried to balance on my one good
foot as I helped Coryn maneuver the ladder around on the scaffolding
so that she could reach up to the ceiling. I knew if I lost my
balance and plummeted to the floor I would probably be crippled for
life but as we all know I will do anything for my children! Now that
the wall is finished and the enormous light fixture that Coryn and
Jeremy purchased in New York is hung the entry way looks fantastic.
The same week Kay enlisted me to help
with her class field trip to the Deanna Rose Farmstead as only two
parents had volunteered. She too had expressed concern about the
state of my foot but said I seemed to be getting around just fine so
if I could just be there for a few hours – of course I said I would
be there! Fortunately I was able to squeeze my foot into my tennies
on the day of the trip ! I met them at the place as it is much closer
to my home than their school and I decided just keeping all those
rambunctious little bodies seated would be exhausting enough- I
imagined half of them would be trying to hang out of the bus windows
along interstate 435.
I had visited the farmstead before with
Coryn and Ava Claire. Noticing how excited she was about the rat in
Central park we imagined she would be very enthused to pet baby
animals but she sat in her stroller with an impassive face as if to
say a cooked chicken on my plate is exciting but this bird making
noise and walking around is boring. Of course she became very
animated when we stopped for a treat and she had a bowl of chocolate
ice cream to inhale.
The first graders were totally
enthralled by all the animals, enjoying the opportunities to feed
them, bottle feed baby goats and to fish. Thankfully one of the
volunteer parents, Mr. Henderson, was happy to put the live worms on
the fishing lines for the kids, - Kay and I were both dreading the
task. I hate to hurt a worm, I appreciate them in my garden so much.
I thought the kids would be bored after five minutes of holding a
pole over the water but to my amazement even the trouble makers were
patience personified, some of them caught several fish! One first
grader did decide to just plop his line on the bank after casting it
thinking he would take a break and explore for something more
exciting but Grandma Lowe- as the kids call me- made it quite clear
that she was not wading into the water to get his pole if it drifted
away, nor was she was paying for the loss so he threw himself down
and held onto it for dear life.
Lunch time worked out well as some kids
were absent so there were extra lunches to share:most of them had
breakfast at school before they boarded the bus but several of the
boys ate two lunches!After lunch we devoted a lot of our time to
wearing them out. Despite the large number of school districts also
present that day we managed to find an empty play area for them to
burn up some energy and they had a great time racing miniature pedal
tractors around a track. Both times Kay and I took advantage of the
chance to sit on a bench and supervise but they were really very good
for the most part.
By the end of the day my foot was a
throbbing, swollen and nasty looking mess but once home I applied an
ice pack and the next day it was much improved! I think all that
walking and standing actually helped!
I have spent the last few weeks sewing
five summer outfits for Ava Claire and working in the garden. Last
weekend Ava Claire's first year was marked by a photographer using my
garden as the back ground. I had as much fun as I use to when
creating my store windows as I set up little scenes with an old Wagon
that Ming Jon made me when he was just a kid, my tree stumps and
collection of frogs. A couple of trips to the nursery were also very
necessary despite Coryn insisting that the star of the pictures was
Ava Claire not my garden which would just be background – fading
background at best.
Bonnie and Gary Niehaus spent a night
here last week as they flew out of Kansas City airport to Denver to
visit daughter Kari and family. Bonnie has been dieting,very
successfully, and seems determined to keep on the plan to better
health. I am so happy for her.
Next week I will be taking a road trip
to Indianapolis to spend some time with Ming-Lee, Lori, Blake and
Claudia. I am taking too much stuff to fly with as I refuse to pay to
check a bag, so I decided to load up the Ford Focus and enjoy my own
company for about eight hours on I70! I just hope I don't get lost as
we all know I have no sense of direction! Hopefully my Garmin will
deliver me safely to their front door: if not I guess Josh can always
enlist help from his friends at Interpol to track me down.
Kay and Jeff have been volunteered to
cat sit and water my garden for a few days again. Kay is teaching
summer school part time and Jeff starts his new job next week after
graduating from KU with a master's degree in social psychology.
Now that my garden is cleaned up it's
time to turn to house projects. I have an old side table of Coryn's
that I am going to redo for my upstairs family room plus an old door
of Bryn's that still needs to become a headboard. So I am going to
spend an afternoon painting furniture in the garage – I just hope
it isn't going to be as much work as filling all the cracks in my
face and painting over then every morning! I should learn to love the
crackle finish on my face as much as I do on furniture!
Love Mother
