Remembering Ruby

Ruby joined our family in April 1994 when we lived in Columbus. We rescued her from the animal shelter in Delaware just north of there. She was very shy to the point of shaking when we brought her home. But slowly she warmed up to us. She was meant to be part of Bryan's birthday gift that year, but she attached herself to me, and over her lifetime was not very comfortable around men in general.

She was born Nov. 1, 1993, so she was 6 months old when we adopted her and we think she suffered some abuse as a puppy. She had been a stray before being brought to the animal shelter.

When we moved back to Sidney in the summer of 1995, she endured the drive back in the packed van with grace. We lived in a 2 bedroom apartment for over 3 months before moving to Charm Hill, and she even did well there with 2 cats and our "new" cat Taz... a stray from the neighborhood.

Over the years, Ruby accompanied us on trips to Michigan and in recent years, on camping trips to nearby Ohio State Parks.



Island Trail
Ludington


Ceasar Creek SP


Right after my last entry - bike hike - Jim left for the bi-annual Andreatta reunion in Uhrichsville OH. He was driving his parents to the party location. Ruby had been slowing down for the last month... not eating ... and lately having a hard time breathing. It was so bad on Thursday night that i decided to take her to the vet on Friday afternoon. He said the trouble could be a mass in her lungs or an enlarged heart. He gave some meds to get her thru the weekend, and suggested a blood test and chest x-ray on Monday. I knew in my heart that the tests would not be happening.
It was a very emotional weekend for me dealing with a dying dog and with Jim gone. I decided Sat. to make an appointment to have her put to sleep on Monday, not wanting her to suffer any longer. That Monday, July 14, I took half a day off work so i could spend the last hours with her. She wanted to be in the back yard, so i lied beside her under the shade of the maple trees and rubbed her ears. Jim finally got home after 3pm and we took the sad drive up to the Anna vet office for a teary goodbye.

The first week was really hard - coming home to an empty house. I have to say it has gotten better.
Ruby was with us for over 14 years. She loved her walks in the neighborhood greeting her favorite friends (Sammy, Muffin & Cheyenne) along the way. She led a good life and is now at peace. We remember her fondly.

Bike Hike

This morning i decided to get off my butt and take a short 'bike hike.' I rode past the Sidney airport down a country road a couple miles. I had brought a Kroger plastic bag along "in case i saw some trash to pick up." HA ... of course there was a ton of trash along the roadside and in the ditch... I barely scratched the surface, but managed to collect 22 aluminum cans of varying sizes.
I passed by LOTs of plastic, which wouldn't fit in my small bag. Besides, carrying several bags of recyling stuff on a bike is precarious at best. I was doing well to spot the cans, hop off & smash them, then get back on and keep pedaling without being run over by the various trucks and tractors that whizzed by. I was wearing my bright orange top and a fluorescent yellow armband, so i felt relatively safe!

Here's a look at what i collected:


Notice how the cans are separated... the beer cans out-number the soda cans 2 to 1! Big Red, Bud Light, and Mountain Dew seem to be the favorites. The Shelby county youth haven't wised up much in the past 5 decades or so... OK, ok, so some of the plastic that i passed by might have been Gatorade bottles...

If you're counting, there are only 21 cans shown. The last one was a special limited edition featuring Indiana Jones (and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull). My DH did the dishes when he got home and finding the can in the sink drainer, crumpled it and put it in the recycling bin! I have attempted to un-crumple it for the photo...


The bottom of the can says: "Indy and Mutt visit Peru... in search of a friend who holds vital clues." I thought it would be a keepsake for our son who is a Dr. Pepper and Indy fan.... oh well.

NOTE: before i go out on the bike again, it will need some TLC, as i noticed the bike cable is a bit 'frayed' around the edges. The gears seemed to work after a fashion. I suppose it was bound to happen eventually. I believe it's the bike i used to carry Bryan and Leah on in the baby seat... 25 years ago!

Kentucky Kampin' & IKEA

June 20th --- This was my regular 2nd Friday of the month OFF from the Libray. Jim wasn' t able to get the day off, so i had planned to take the "Critter" down to KY for the weekend solo. It was not to be as we couldn't get the tail lights to work on the trailer!

Plan B was to check for camps with a cabin. Found one in Crittenden KY -- 28 miles south of the Cinci bridge. It's a former KOA camp, now run by Good Sam.

I drove straight to IKEA on Friday morning getting there around noon. Spent three lovely hours looking around - shopping and eating lunch in the cafeteria!

I checked out just before the heavy thunderstorms hit the Cinci area.... 3:30.... SO....
not only was i fighting rush hour traffic to get across the river, but the pouring rain as well!
Not one bit fun. I finally made it to the camp in one piece after stopping for a fan, hot pot, and a fast food salad for supper.

*Sat. night - jim's talking with mom*

The park itself was well-kept and friendly, but it was situated between I-75 and US 25 which was right next to the rail road track! We could hear the hum of trucks from both sides and the train whistle about 7 times a day (and some at night!) . Not the quiet peaceful place i had envisioned.
Had a nice relaxing evening at the cabin and met Jim and the gang from Grace the next morning... after a fashion.
I called Janet Jackson (our leader) to make sure i had the right exit for the "Creation Museum" and she said there was a detour. I took a wrong turn and went one exit too far, but finally found them.... still waiting their turn to get in... It was a HOT day and the AC felt nice once inside!

The Creation Museum is a HUGE place. The displays were all top quality. I felt the "in your face" attitude of the message was a bit over the top, but over all it was a good presentation of the
argument for the reality that God created our magnificent planet and us as well.


*Adam and Carol in the garden

The museum had a lovely garden across a creek- very lush and colorful - complete with misters in the 'swampy' area. We walked over the floating bridge and enjoyed some of the flowers, plants and dinosaurs - oh my!

*Jim had pond and waterfall envy*


Sunday trip home ... to be continued...

50th plus 2

Bryan and Laney came over June 8th (sunday) at my request to help celebrate my 50th birthday. I got the idea to celebrate 2 months late from Laney's dad who did just that earlier this year! In fact, it was at that celebration Mid-May that Bryan asked the McLoughlin's for Elaine's hand in marriage! (she came home late that day).

Bryan had promised me a "meal" so i parlayed that into having him cook for me! Jim and Bryan went shopping after church and brought back goodies to make some kabobs to grill and an ice cream cake. Laney and i fixed a salad and had some girl talk.



It was a lovely feast and celebration. It was the first time we had seen them since their engagement so we took some pics as well! Here's to the happy couple!

Spring Yarden

I really love my yard/garden=yarden in the spring! Except for the ache in my neck and back from weeding it's really a joy to behold all the color as it bursts forth!

I took a walk around the yarden capturing the fleeting beauty of the first blooms of the season on June first.... here is a sampler.


*Purple Columbine grows within Yarrow*

*Daisy and Iris near Pond*









*First Pink Peony Bloom!*







*First White Peony Bloom*


*Anniversary Rose near Front Door*









*Classic Yarrow*









*Pink Vine - honeysuckle?*







*Old Purple Iris..... "Flag"*










*Purple 'weed' - wild phlox?*






*Baby Robins nesting in the Pink Vine*










*Hungry Baby Robin!*

Wedding Bell News!

Memorial Day was extra memorable this year because it was the day our son Bryan Mitchell asked his lovely girlfriend of three years, Elaine McLoughlin, to marry him! And she actually said YES!!!

They ate dinner to celebrate the three year mark in their relationship and went for a stroll on the local bike path in Athens, when it began to sprinkle. As they entered a nearby gazebo, it started to pour down rain!~ a perfect setting to begin planning the rest of their lives together... and savor the moment!

Since Laney had a camera in her bag, they snapped a picture to share their joy with all of us!

No date has been revealed --- yet! So stay tuned!

Jim's49th

Jim turned 49 on May 25th... this is also Leah's 23rd Birthday!
After working 1/2 day at the library, we drove down to Franklin OH (s. of Dayton) for James Pretorius' graduation party on the 24th.
It was held at their church in Middletown, which we had never been to before, but were able to get there thanks to Google Map directions!
Diana and her sisters prepared a lovely feast and since we got there in the last hour of the open house we were encouraged to "eat it up!"

It was a nice celebration of his accomplishments.
James will be attending Wheaton College in Illinois (SW of Chicago) to study Business and Bible - planning to be a pastor one day! His family and friends are so proud of him and we know that his dad, Brian is smiling down from heaven and cheering him on as well!

After the party we drove to mom and dad's on the north side of Dayton for the night. Went to church at North Riverdale Lutheran the next morning where Pastor Monte announced Jim's birthday and made a "joke" about his sister EJ being 80, so that makes Jim.... ? He received many well wishes from the folks there.
Mom fixed a lovely lunch of strata and salad at home and we ended with a sweet berry pie a-la-mode! EJ & Joe joined us for lunch as well. It's nice to spend birthdays and special occasions with family.
I had planned to take jim shopping at a sports store on the way home so he could choose his own gift. We went to 3 stores, but none of them had any biking jackets, or bike gear at all! So he got a small gift - which i had bought earlier at a local bike shop- when we got home, (safety flashing light and ankle straps for visibility!) and he ordered his jacket on line...

Leah sent her dad a gift from Germany and he received it on Wednesday the 28th. It was a 'manly' european scarf and some delicious tea. He modeled the scarf with his Berlin cap! Very continental!