Decorating?

Yesterday, we spent an interesting evening helping friends decorate for the Oil 150 celebration going on this week. There is a contest and let me tell you, they are out to win! An oil derrick in their front yard, no less! We started at 4:14 PM and finished the helping out part somewhere around 8:30 - 9:00 PM. We had people slowing down to get a good look (some also turned around to get a second look) and a few even parked to watch, lol.

Videos take too long to load so here are some stills from the many videos I took.

Rainbow

Noelle was washing dishes last evening. She looked out the window and saw...

Life Right Now

My life feels so strange lately. I'm sure it has a lot to do with my dad dying from cancer and him not knowing the Lord. But there is so much else that I don't share with anyone but God. Sometimes I feel trapped by my life. Most of the time I just keep moving along and leaning heavily on my Jesus, or like now, just letting Him carry me.

This morning, I was reading a book that was recommended to me. I'm not particularly fond of this author's writing style, it comes across as rather offensive in some areas. However, there is a lot of truth in what she has written. This book was supposed to enlighten me on educating my teens but instead of that, it made me realize the many chains I have on my own life. They are chains that I have no way of removing either.

With this realization, I was struck by a major need to get out of this house and go for a walk. To be out in God's creation. So, I got dressed, grabbed the leash, the dog, a water bottle and my camera. There is a route that I walk sometimes that is about 2 miles long and in the woods for most of it. It was very peaceful and Owen was grateful for the exercise as well.

The first thing we saw that made me get out my camera was this doe. She stood there and watched me get the camera out of the carrier and after the first picture decided to take off.
Trying to take pictures with a dog attached to you is a little difficult, hence the slightly blurry pictures. Here are some of the different views along my walk.Owen loves the woods, so many new smells and so little time with mom dragging you along (or keeping you by her side).I have some video I took as well but its taking too long to upload them. I'll try again later.

Sometimes getting out and about really helps you refocus and recharge.

Pymatuning

On Saturday, we decided to go to Pymatuning Reservoir.

We stopped at the car wash on the way and the kids and I took some goofy pictures.
We had originally planned to go to the deer park (actually a small zoo) but the place was crowded beyond belief (we'll go back on a weekday). We were hungry anyway so headed into Jamestown for some lunch. Then we drove over to the dam to explore.
Next we drove to the other end of the reservoir to feed the carp. Noelle has a joke she tells about how to cook a carp: Take a pine board and nail the carp to the board, cook in a 350 degree oven for 4-5 hours, take out of oven and throw out the carp, eat the pine board ;o)
Here's a couple videos of the hungry buggers:

We stopped at Family Ties on the way home and ate dessert instead of dinner. I mean come on, who has room for dessert after eating a meal? ;o)

To top off the day, we went for a walk to see how progress was coming on the community swimming pool. The plaster crew came all the way from Texas and they were swarming all over the place trying to get things finished for the opening in a few days.

All in all, a very busy day!

My Busy Day

Its been a busy day here. Kyle, Noelle, and I rode our bikes to a couple yard sales. I found a basically brand new coffee thermos carafe for $2, a little vase for all the flowers Noelle is always picking for me (she's such a sweetie), and some trims for crazy quilting. We got home from doing that and I decided to clear off the deck and sweep it. Got interrupted before cleaning the deck furniture to walk Noelle to the Y for homeschool gym (got over there and found out it had been canceled), went to the dollar store for a few things, then to Save-A-Lot for some more things, then walked home. Found out I needed to make a real grocery shopping trip in the van, so I made a list and off I went. I also bought some Impatiens to plant in a planters on the deck. The kids put the groceries away while I went and finally got the deck furniture hosed down and scrubbed. Came back in and made dinner. Ate, went back outside to put the cushions on the furniture while the kids cleaned up from dinner, then Kyle came outside and helped me haul all the furniture back up onto the deck. Planted my flowers, talked to the neighbors for a few minutes, then came inside and got on the computer. You know what? I'm tired.

On another note -- Kirk's mom called this morning and was talking to the machine, waiting for me to pick up. She wanted to do something special for his 50th birthday. Well, Kirk came home very early from work (not feeling well) and sitting on the computer, heard her message. I started laughing as I picked up the phone and informed her he had heard the whole thing. He said something to the effect of, "Over my dead body." Lol. Kevin's (Kirk's brother) girlfriend surprised him with a 50th birthday party last year and I was told that I better not do something similar.

Concerts in the Park

Concerts in the Park starting up June 1

By Tom Boyle
Monday, May 11, 2009 10:58 PM CDT

With summer just around the corner, you can almost hear the sound of a band playing in Scheide Park in Titusville.

The Titusville Council on the Arts has released the schedule for one of the most well-attended events in the city -- the Titusville Summer Concerts in the Park series.

The 26-year-old program is a staple for family summer entertainment each year.

The concerts take place each Monday evening in June, July and August from 7 to 9:00 in Scheide Park. In addition, the Titusville Lions Club is present each week to provide food sales.

“Our program committee sat down and considered the acts we used last year,” said Penny Gustavson, executive director of the Titusville Council on the Arts. “We took attendance each week and considered the interest shown by residents.

“Every year the schedule changes, because we try to bring in new bands,” Gustavson said. “We put out the word early. Bands that want to play here during the summer must contact us by mid-January.”

Part of the process used by committee members to choose the musical acts is to listen to CDs forwarded to the arts council.

Gustavson said that last year's two most popular bands are returning: country band “Ghost Riders” (June 22) and 50s, 60s and 70s crooners “Top Cats” (July 27).

“People begged us to bring in a 50s and 60s band,” Gustavson said of “Top Cats,” who definitely filled the bill.

Another group that Titusville folks turn out for in big numbers is the polka band “Gerkmania.” Gustavson said that although these music makers are unable to perform on Monday due to work commitments, she will try to bring them in on another evening to perform.

“They are well-liked in this area,” she said. “We will try to work them in.”

Two newcomers to the Scheide Park stage are bluegrass band “Grass Fire” (June 8) and country rock's “Divided Highway” (July 6).

“[Divided Highway] is a very popular area band [that] we have not had the privilege of presenting before,” Gustavson said. “We are excited about being able to have them.”

Residents are encouraged to attend with a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the music each week. Families are encouraged to bring children of all ages.

In the event of rain, the concerts will be moved to Titusville High School. If Colestock Auditorium is not available, the show will go on in either the gymnasium or cafeteria.

The concerts are made possible through the generosity of several area civic groups and charitable organizations.

In addition to the concert series, the council will also be busy with Oil 150 Celebration activities.

Along with the tribute to Hank Williams scheduled for Aug. 18, Gustavson said there are a lot of other things planned by the arts council for Oil 150, pending the receipt of funding through grants.

Ethnic Day has been set for Aug. 20. The theme this year is the Seneca Indians.

“We are going back to the original collectors of oil,” Gustavson noted.

The Titusville Council on the Arts Summer Concerts in the Park schedule for 2009 is listed as follows:

June

June 1 - The Necessary Experience (rock)

June 8 - Grass Fire (bluegrass)

June 15 - Forsyth Special (Irish)

June 22 - Ghost Riders (country rock)

June 29 - Bill Beggs Big Band (big band)

July

July 6 - Divided Highway (mix)

July 13 - Loose Change Band (country)

July 20 - Newman (modern)

July 27 - Top Cats (50s, 60s and 70s)

August

Aug. 3 - Carl Olson -- An Instrumental Journey (pop)

Aug. 10 - CATRO (jazz)

Aug. 17 - Banjo Jammers

Oil Festival Special

Aug. 18 - A Tribute to Hank Williams






Posting this here so I don't have to go looking for it later on :)

A Summer Evening

Walking to town.



Waiting to cross the street.



Warming up.



Waiting.





Time to sing.

Today?

Okay, here comes the heat wave with all the humidity. It looks like summer weather has finally arrived, sigh....

I think we'll stay inside and play Sega, by the fan....

Maybe later, we'll sit on the deck and make our fairy house.........

Been reading email all morning, one of my elists just kind of took off.........

Nachos for dinner, refuse to turn the oven on.........

Summer Events

Noelle will have the bulk of her summer involved in summer theater. Kyle? We looked into summer camp today and boy is it expensive! Anyway, we'll see if we can come up with the $400 before all the open slots are filled (you have to pay in full when registering). Possibilities are: mountain biking, climbing/repelling, and adventure sampler. Kyle's birthday is in July so maybe the relatives will pitch in on the expense instead of other presents?