Gotta get caught up...

Day 18 of 171

Okay, I haven't been on my blog for awhile and need to get caught up.  Last day I posted was the day Stu got his car on the 15th. So I have a whole week to talk about.
Jan 16th Sunday - don't remember this day...stayed home and cleaned; worked on financial paperwork.
Jan 17th Monday - Holiday from work..stayed home and napped.
Jan 18th Tuesday - took a personal day and stayed home - helped James with Newkirk Farms stuff. Took the new truck in to Hubler for a recall repair and put the mud flaps/running boards on. Got to drive a new Black Buick Lacrosse....very cool car. Loved it. May have to get me one of those someday.

I like the blue one too!

Jan 19th Wednesday - went with James to Portland Michigan to get John Deere planter boxes for our planter. Fast road trip up there and back. I took a personal day from work.  We went today instead of Saturday since a snow storm was suppose to hit Michigan on Saturday. So needless to say we didn't go to Lake Michigan, like I wanted. Frustrating and a long story....we did stop and eat a Schuler/s restaurant http://www.schulersrestaurant.com/ . Neat place...in business for 101 years.

 

Swiss Onion Soup Recipe...

Swiss Onion Soup...didn't have it; but gonna have to try next time.



Seafood Chowder - very good

James had this Raspberry Sundae

This was called a Snowball - vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and pecans....very good too

 

Jan 20th Thursday - sick - had a headache; stayed home and napped...pain meds didn't help.

Jan 21st Friday - same as above...

Jan 22nd Saturday - worked on filing and financial stuff; James worked on the planter. We watched Bounty Hunter movie last night and the Purdue/Michigan State game. Purdue won.

And today, Jan 23rd...working on my blog, read through FB posts, have laundry and some cleaning to get done.

Stu's new Ride...2011 Black Camero

Day 8 of 171

4 days have passed...been busy with my work. Had Indiana Soil and Water Conservation District Annual Conference on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday up at Indianapolis. Good sessions, got to see people, friends from around the State.  Have missed talking to Jenn. This 6 hour difference is sure bugging me.  Had a frustrating thing happen at Conference. Lost my cell phone or thought it was stolen. Had James call Verizon to cancel it. Went 24 hours without it. (that is hard). And called James from the hotel room...cost me $28.00 dollars...don't do that - and for only 10 minutes) Anyway, come to find out it was in one of my Supervisor's bags. At the conference we were given all the same bag and I guess dummy me, I put it in his bag. He didn't check his bag until the next day. errrrr....

But then....since I was up for an upgrade on my phone and James was having issues with his; we headed to the Verizon store on Wednesday night. James got my old/lost/stolen/missing phone and I got a new Fascinate phone - a smart phone. I love it.  Learning new things is fun. I really like being 16 again.  Still waiting on the Car Date though....sure wish he still had his 1984 Camero.

Been reading Jenn's Blog. Amazing things she is doing. Will be glad when she gets settled into her classes - chooses the ones she wants to take. I think she will feel better about everything then too.

Loved what she wrote about "My Cathedral"...completely agree...she took the words right out of my mouth. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree....

Fantasy in F# Minor, Mvt 3

Sunday Morning Sunshine and Concern

Day 4 of 171

Just read through Jenn's postings on her blog.  It is hard on a mom to read what my daughter is going through - and there is nothing that I can do - especially since there was no communication in the beginning. Now I have spoken to her yesterday, and she seems better.  Hope she is telling me the truth.  The sun is shining here; beautiful morning. Currently it is 61 degrees in Aix en Provence...and it is 4 degrees in Falmouth. I would think that 61 degrees is better than 4 - miss jennifer.

We had the Cheesy Noodle Chicken last night. It was very good. It will be one that I fix again and again. Very easy too.  James is still asleep....he watched the Colts play last night and then was on the computer. Lazy morning for him so far...hehe.  I washed the dishes and started another load of laundry. Will work on getting 2010 paperwork in order for filing - that is my plan anyway. And will need to make a trip to Kohls or somewhere to get Luanna's curtains today. 

More later....

True Grit Movie...

Thinking about going to the movies...maybe to see True Grit, or the Season of the Witch or the Little Fockers. Not sure which. More towards True Grit.

My new thing so far today is making Cheesy Chicken in the Crockpot. New recipe. I bought a new Center Christian Church cookbook and found some thing new.  Hope it tastes good. Can add noodles for rice. Not sure yet which I want to do. Probably noodles.  Was going to test drive a new camero...by headed home with groceries instead.  More later...gonna nap a bit...

Jenn has tiny, but comfy room

Day 3 of 171

Heard from Jenn on Thursday via email. She made it okay!  Then yesterday, Friday, got a phone call from her. Loved hearing her voice.  She is meeting new friends; more relaxed. I know she will do fine. Just hope she doesn't fall in love with France and move there. Told James that we might have to get a small villa / farm over there. It would be our International Ag adventure.

This morning is cleaning the house...busy - got both refridges cleaned and organized, laundry going, dishes washed (really want a new kitchen and a dishwasher). James is vaccuming - while I am on here. Got to love that man! Have hair appt with Sandy at noon and get a few items at the grocery store. Stu coming down sometime to clean out his truck. James will be putting the new tires on the planter sometime today. We have snow - maybe an 1 inch? Pretty. Gonna take down the Christmas trees sometime today - gotta get a container to put them in.

So I am suppose to try something new each day - not sure what today will bring.  James and I watched the Muppets - Treasure Island (VHS) last night.  Great movie.  Sure love Kermit and Miss Piggy....

She is safe in Aix en Provence!!!!!

Nerve-racking day; waiting to hear from Jennifer. Finally got a wonderful short email around 3:30 pm Indiana time (9:30 pm France). She is safe and has a tiny but comfy room. She needs to get internet tomorrow - so hopefully can catch up tomorrow or this weekend. Hear all about the flights, the universite, country, the travel, etc. 

Busy - productive day at work. Best thing to do when you are concerned about something....get busy.

Mack doesn't know that you have left for France; and especially that you will be gone for 6 months. You want to come home and tell her?

James made 2 trips to Cincinnati to get our fertilizer. Will make 1 more tomorrow. Hope the roads are better tomorrow. It was icy coming home from work - especially on 900.

Jenn landed in Frankfurt

Over the Atlantic Ocean

Just checked flightaware.com and Jenn is over the Atlantic Ocean...heading to Frankfurt, Germany then on to Marseille, France. She has completed 2 hours and 24 minutes and has 4 hours and 46 minutes to go on this leg of the flight. I sure hope she is sleeping.  She is up at 37,000 feet approx...WOW.

How am I doing? It hasn't sunk in yet. Jenn was in Washington DC for this past Fall Semester and last Spring Semester she was in Europe (Italy, France, England, etc) with a group from Butler. But only for 4 months and with other people that she knew. So, this is longer - 6 months and won't know a soul in France for at least 20 minutes...knowing Jenn she makes friends fast and it may not even take her the 20 minutes.  The problem will be the 6 hour time difference from here (Indiana) to Aix en Provence.  Will be some late nights on the computer.  Seeing and talking to her on Skype will keep me going. May not let her out of my sight when she comes home at the end of  June.

Jenn is like her Mom and her Mamaw Souder - she gets it honestly; loves to travel.

So, Jenn - what has your Mom done since you left for your adventure over the pond?  Boring, simple things - life things; cleaned the living room (where you packed all your stuff and left a huge mess) took stuff back to Best Buy, went to see Aunt Shari/Uncle Bruce about Stu's truck, went to dealership about Stu's new car, ate at the Mex in Rushville (James and I shared some fajitas - north end of town), went to the funeral home for a neighbor, home now doing the blog thing, Davis Towing just brought Stu's truck here and James left to go meet Stu in Greenfield to switch the trucks, Aunt Teresa called to check up on me.  So, sitting here in PJ's thinking about you, keeping an eye on you as you fly over the Atlantic (you are about halfway done with this leg of the flight; knowing Mamaw is right there with you.

Funny things that happened today was when I called Papaw S to tell him you took off; he asked if there was a group going with you?  I said no, it was just you, he said "Lord, why did you tell me that, she is going to be alone? In France? You shouldn't have told me that.....well, she will be fine. She makes friends fast, right? She will be fine...". I said, "Yes, Dad she will be fine and have lots of friends". He said to let him know when you get there.
And Aunt Cathy - when I sent everyone a text saying that you took off, heading to France for 6 months. 20 hour flight with layovers. Aunt Cathy read it as LAWYERS instead of LAYOVERS and sent me a text back saying she thought that Butler must really expect problems with getting through airport security that they would send LAWYERS with you for your 20 hour flight. LOL

I love you and miss you - my Jennifer, Mom

Jan 5, 2011 - Jenn off to France

Okay, I created this blog to learn something new and to keep Jenn informed of our daily lives here on the farm - while she is out being adventurous in France. And since she created a blog about her travels - I thought I should do it too and I will try new things in the next 6 months - so what is new for 2011? Maybe mini trips, more exercise, starting a greenhouse, reading more, writing, foods, farming full-time with James, new kitchen, bathroom etc., and maybe heading to France for a visit too. Life here at the Farm can't be as wonderful as France when you are 20 years old (almost 21); but it sure is wonderful to this 46 year old...aka the 16 year old (since I choose to be 16 again and the last 30 years...some things I want to forget; and the great thing is James gets to take me on car dates now - since I turned 16 in November). And who cares if my daughter is older then me?

Jenn leaves this afternoon - my heart is happy - knowing that she is doing something that she has wanted to do for a very long time and not giving up on her dreams. We are very lucky to have the technology that we have today - I will be able to keep in contact with her daily (and seeing her on the computer) compared to writing and waiting on letters. Technology will keep me sane. (and you are thinking - this woman thinks she is 16 again...she isn't sane even with Technology helping)

Our daughter Jennifer Courtney is very special to us and to a great many people.  We wish her love, peace, excitement, joy, and abundance in her travels and adventures...we love you, MORE and the MOST.