VBS, Pretty Flowers, and Paperwork

It's Vacation Bible School week at church. I've not done more than drop a child off and pick her up, but I still get just a small taste of the excitement. VBS was always fun when I was a little girl. We went to the one at our own church mornings one week of the summer, and another week we attended a neighboring church for an evening VBS. This year there are six children I have babysat in the past few years (Oops, make that seven. I forgot the pastor's grandson), along with three of my grandchildren, attending our church VBS. It's been fun to see them and get a hug or two. Rocky gives a mean hug!

I cut some zinnias from my garden flower beds this afternoon and put them in a vase on my mom's table. She would have found them pretty and likely told me so. Maybe next year I'll have a big flower garden just for the fun of it.

My mom's table is not only home to a vase of pretty flowers, but lately also home to varying stacks of papers. Every time I think I have a job taken care of and mailed away, part of it comes back. It's happened with almost every insurance policy for which I've had the privilege of filling out paperwork. Last week new (or should I say "old"?) ones were brought to my attention; childhood policies. A letter came in the mail and we found the original paperwork tucked away in an out of the way file box. I have no idea what they are worth and my dad is still listed as the beneficiary. Perhaps the paperwork shall never end. We haven't even started on what to do with the house.

In spite of the looming paperwork (I say looming, but it's really getting done...), I am having a very nice summer. I still have things I'd like to check off my to-do list, like meet some more cousins, go to Canada, and maybe climb a tree, but I do have plans for a few of the others. I'm going to the Adirondack Mountains with my sister next week, and in early to mid September I have plans to both meet a blog friend (Wanda) and see my faraway grandson. Since I like to stretch summer way into September, perhaps I will get to check several more items off my list before the season is over. Not sure I'll get to visit all the Finger Lakes... Maybe I'll do that in the fall instead. :0)

My Wild Flower Garden

There has been some discussion of turning the corner flower garden into a patio. If we actually entertained company on a regular basis, it would be a fine idea. I envision patio stones on the ground and one of those fancy outdoor fireplaces to gather around on summer and early autumn evenings... However, there are a few plants out there that I couldn't bear to part with completely. One is my very lovely Jack-in-the-Pulpit.

Last year this magnificent monster produced some very exotic looking fruits. The "berries" which start out green and looking very much like a miniature ear of corn, will turn bright red by the end of summer. I'd seen plenty of Jack-in-the-Pulpit plants in the woods when I was a little girl, but I'd never seen the berries until last year. Since Jack stands in the "pulpit" I like to think of this as his "pulpit committee".

The leaves (no, that's not poison ivy) look so green and lush right now. They remind of long ago days when I would come home from school and head off to the little strip of woods that ran along the edge of the old playground. It was full of wonderful treasures in the spring; Jack-in-the-Pulpits , trillium, and May-apples. Kind of makes me think it's time to go for a walk.

News From the Flower Pot

We had a "garden" full of "flowers" today and somehow, though I'm tired, I am
not thoroughly used up and exhausted, at least not yet. We endured yelling and crying, love and laughter, a bit of bossing, tantrums and tender times . There were animal crackers and milk, peanut butter sandwiches, and fruit snacks. Naps didn't happen, but there was a little bit of quiet when Hannah put some music on the TV.

I made it to Webster for Ladies' Prayer this morning, but didn't stay for Bible Study. Even so, it was good to be with friends in prayer, and I came home just in time to fix Mom's breakfast and coffee. She was just getting dressed when I returned a few minutes before 11 o'clock. 

The weather has taken a definite turn and the wind has a bite to it that lets us know that winter is on its way. My sassafras trees have dropped most all their leaves and so after lunch we headed out to rake them in a pile and have a bit of fun.

The boys found the pile of leaves great to sit in and walk through, while Rocky was intent on raking them into one spot. She was thoroughly distressed by Simon who kept messing up her pile of leaves. I am always amazed at how insistent she is on taking control of other children and situations. Although she was determined, he wasn't having any part of it.