THE LOWE FAMILY NEWSLETTER VOLUME 99 MAY 2015

Dear Children, Family, and Friends,

Spring burst forth this year with gloriously sunny days interspersed with frequent rain showers causing my garden to blossom long before usual. I don't think I have ever seen daffodils, columbines and clematis blooming simultaneously. Everything from milk weed to cleome has emerged from the dirt weeks before it would usually. I hope my garden won't be all bloomed out by the end of June though!

As mentioned in my last letter , I went ahead with my latest home improvement project: a stamped, neutral toned patio, with a stone sitting wall and a section of fencing which incorporated a five foot wide gate which improves access to the backyard for garden equipment. I had the contractor who did my kitchen and bathroom projects last year head this one up too as he undertook to find some good bids for me and I am very happy with the result.

Growing up in Bedhampton, southern England, I spent hours every summer day in my garden house – a converted shed. I decided that a play house for Ava Claire on my new, safe and level patio would be just the thing to mark her second birthday. Fortuitously it arrived on a day she was here with me so I excitedly explained that the huge cardboard box contained something very special for her. Ava Claire looked at the box and announced she was going to see her frogs. I assured myself that once I had the pieces out of the box she would understand that a real little house was soon to be part of her backyard paradise at Grandma's. I managed to drag her away from her frogs – a set of four ceramic garden frogs that her mother gave me many years ago – and exclaimed “ Boy oh Boy” as I showed her the door, walls, roof, and windows. She repeated “Boy oh Boy” with gusto as I handed her the bag of fake food to carry over to the patio as I hefted a wall. Ava Claire asked me to open her bag so she could play with the contents. She immediately set the food and dishes up on the stone sitting wall and when asked if she would like to help Grandma bring more of the house around to the patio, she announced that she was staying put with her plastic food. I hustled and after about six round trips from the driveway to the patio I had all the house pieces in place ready to assemble. Again I asked Ava Claire if she would like to help Grandma but she informed me that she was playing. I rationalized she would be more excited once the house was assembled because she probably didn't comprehend that a pile of plastic bits and pieces was going to turn into a playhouse. I managed to get the actual house assembled fairly quickly but the biggest problem was installing the doorbell – I had to scrunch into the house hold the back and front doorbell pieces in place whilst I drilled through the wall. Ava Claire was far more interested in my drill than her house and would try to grab it every time I set it down - further delaying the process. The doorbell makes six different sounds that I thought she would enjoy but the only sound she likes is that of the barking dogs, which probably reminds her of her real home. I mounted the stove top into the wall, added the adjoining picnic table and stools and looked around for Ava Claire who had wondered off back to her frogs. She bought them over to check out the house briefly but soon returned them to their usual spot in my circular bed of the lily of the valleys where she played happily. Coryn said she would probably have been more enthused over another set of ceramic garden ornaments and that I should have just turned a cardboard box into a playhouse but I am sure that Elena and Lola Rose will be more excited about it and maybe this will influence Ava Claire.

Elena has certainly had a very positive effect on Ava Claire's potty training. The last time the girls were all together at my house Elena demonstrated every step of the procedure to Ava Claire who practically pushed Elena off the potty to see her poo poo! Elena explained that she had to take toilet paper and “pat pat” until she was dry. Ava Claire has this part down pat, unfortunately she still has problems getting to the potty before she wets but for her age she is doing well I think. She does best when she goes commando and then always gets herself on the potty in time to poo and pee. She has been dry through the night for quite a while.

In the middle of April I drove to Iowa City for the wedding of Lauren Clarke , the youngest daughter of my good friends, Dave and Jane Clarke. It was great to see the other kids, Katie and her twin boys, Dan and John. John is very excited about the prospect of being able to visit Sean in London – let's hope Sean's budget will be big enough to afford space for visitors. The wedding and reception took place at The Celebration Farm : a beautiful round wooden barn which perfectly suited the rustic themed wedding. A shuttle bus service was offered between the hotel and venue so at check in I signed up for that: glad to be relieved of the responsibility of finding my way from one place to another- especially late at night in the dark. However once I boarded the bus I was soon surrounded by twenty year olds who clearly saw this as the party bus: grateful that they could drink without having to worry about driving themselves back to the hotel. I had to admit to myself that I was probably a tad too mature to fit in with this raucous group and decided that I would try to nab a more sedate ride home. Fortunately I was seated with some very nice couples and was offered a ride back to the hotel with one of them: and thank goodness I didn't choose to drive myself as we were caught in a torrential downpour on the drive back with zero visibility on I80!

I am happy to report that Josh is back in Bolivia volunteering with the big cats who hopefully are well fed and not tempted to snack on my son! I cannot imagine running through the rainforest with a puma tied to a leash around my waist being eaten alive by mosquitoes and wading into rivers with the possibility of becoming fish food! But Joshua seems to thrive on the challenges.

Sean is now working for his former company Cerner in their London office. In early April I dropped him off at the airport for his first flight of three to Manchester airport where he was met by cousin Ethan. He spent about three weeks with my brother Trevor, his wife Angela and of course Ethan in Huddersfield taking trips to local places of interest and a weekend was spent in Scotland. Then Cerner flew him back to the states at the end of April for three days of meetings before returning him to London where he is currently being housed in a hotel at their expense while he looks for an affordable flat – which will be a challenge.

We were able to see Sean for dinner on Friday night before he returned to London which was great - we all got together at the Logues as Sean had some stuff he had stored at their house that he was taking the opportunity to retrieve and take back with him. He also had had some electronic stuff shipped there as apparently it is much cheaper to buy it in this country. Unfortunately Ava Claire threw up at dinner time but she felt well enough to demand pizza and proceeded to demand that Sean play with her, take her to the potty and read books to her. Jeremy had been ill with diarrhea earlier in the week and unfortunately Coryn and I succumbed in the next few days. I was greatly concerned that Sean would be affected while traveling but fortunately he stayed healthy. The Tuckers sent some cute clothes over for Ava Claire and her new brother to be and some classic English sweets for the rest of us. They also included a tea bell which is perfect for Ava Claire and her beloved tea times.

Kay and Jeff had picked Sean up at his hotel so he got to meet Theodore , their rescue dog who looks a lot like Buster with a tail. I bet the neighbors were very worried when they saw five dogs running around the Logues back yard - not another one! Unfortunately Theodore is estimated to be about two years old but he is not potty trained so Kay and Jeff are trying to crate train him but it is a challenge with an older dog. He is adorable but a lot of work - I did try to talk them out of it until they at least had a house and a doggie door but as usual no-one listens to me! He is a very cute,nice dog and surprisingly my cats seem quite comfortable with him.

I completed all my nursery sewing for my newest grandson, crib panels, bumper pads, changing table pad, valances , and a pillow for the rocking chair which thankfully I did not have to reupholster as it worked with the new nursery colors. I am now concentrating on Ava Claire's summer wardrobe.

The last couple of times that I have talked to Bryn he has been at Marc's condo instead of his house in downtown LA. Apparently there is no air conditioning and Bryn claims it's not his thing to sit and sweat. He would rather drive to Marc's, and take his brother's towels and snacks to spend the day at the nearby Redondo Beach! He is actively seeking a sub- leaser with thoughts of joining Josh and or Sean. Frankly I am bewildered that he thinks he could survive in the hot and humid rainforest when he finds LA a challenge! I can see Bryn happily drinking his way through England's pubs as he contemplates future employment opportunities.

Mother's Day weekend was a social whirl on the Plaza. Becky Dickinson invited Coryn and me to lunch at Andres as a belated celebration of my birthday on Saturday – a feast for the eyes and stomach as one has to walk pass display cases filled with handmade specialty chocolates to reach the cafe where I enjoyed a delicious chicken vol- au- vent with salad and a raspberry pastry for dessert. The following day I met Kay and Jeff and his mother Barb,(for the first time) for brunch at Brio's. It was so sweet of the kids to do this for us. I am so blessed to have these young people in my life.

Today I was meant to be helping Kay with her class field trip but it was canceled due to rain so hopefully the weather will co-operate for a make up day. I think we are going to have rain all through the weekend yet again. This has certainly be a wet spring. Fortunately my basement has stayed dry.

Ming and Lori have put their lake house in Crawfordsville, up for sale after coming to the conclusion that it was no longer practical or enjoyable to maintain two properties, especially with Blake in high school and both kids activities. Ming Lee certainly put a lot of time and energy into updating and improving the property with his extensive handy man skills. Now they will have more time to visit all that I have to offer in my wonderfully located fun in the sun paradise of a home.

Coryn and Jeremy will soon be introducing us to our their son and my next newsletter will be a birth announcement! Ava Claire's 2^nd birthday will be on May 25^th and the plan is to incorporate the two events if possible! Coryn is counting on delivering early again this time! She actually made Ava Claire's birthday dress herself from yards of tulle with no sew construction! I am so proud of her! I was hoping that she might be motivated to learn to sew but she quickly squelched that hope.

Mother is now a lady in waiting, waiting for the arrival of Owen, waiting for the rain to stop and waiting for one of many unmarried sons to call with news of at least a date. Love to you all from your mother who always penetrates like a ray of sunshine into your lives no matter how thick the clouds that surround you.