Hello!

I know it's been awhile since I posted...but it's been pretty quiet around here, just trying to get to Spring. I can feel it coming, and with it is coming the realization that there are a lot of things I didn't get done this winter that I intended to do.

There's a funny little cartoony thing I have about the difference in dogs and cats. I don't have it in front of me, but it goes something like this:

The dog says:
Oh, it's time to eat! My favorite thing!
Oh, the leash! Time for a walk! My favorite thing!
Oh, someone's at the door! My favorite thing!
Oh, we're going to sit on the couch and cuddle! My favorite thing!

The cat says:
It's day 256 of captivity.
The humans oogled over the silly dog again today, and yet failed to notice my impressive leap from the bed to the floor, with no hesitation whatsoever.
Etc...Etc.

My point is that I have been trying to clean up the basement...yes, still from Christmas. The problem is that as I pick up and sort out, I find myself saying:

Oh, Christmas pictures! My favorite thing!
Oh, puzzles! My favorite thing!
Oh, a box of crochet books! My favorite thing!
Oh, I'm tired! The couch! My favorite thing!

You get the idea! I hope to have the basement done this week. Then I can start upstairs, where I will find my computer, and the books I'm reading, and food close by...all of my favorite things!

I hope I'm ready when the nice weather sets in!

CHALLENGE

It has been a real challenge for the last couple weeks to remain patient when noone showed up to complete our bathroom project. Finally, we are making progress again, and the word is that they will be here everyday until the job is finished. Great News!!

This is the new shower - in progress. . .

The tile is ready and waiting. . . My current quilt project - I hope to get it all together today.

The final completed pictures will be on here as soon as possible.

We Saw Mike!

Joey and I were in Taiwan last week. In our hotel room on Wednesday evening, we were watching the news and a report about nuclear power plants came on. They showed the one at which Mike works. "Joey - that's where Mike works!" The cameraman panned the room after filming the Senator. "Mary - that's Mike right there!" His back was to us, but we're sure those broad shoulders were our brother-in-law's. So wasn't that something - to be sitting in a hotel room thousands of miles away and see someone you know.

I always hope I'll unexpectedly see someone I know in an airport. Have you?

And Here is My Version. . .

of Grandma's Special Beef Stew. Since we will be out of town tomorrow, my folks came over tonight for a birthday supper for Mom, and I decided to try the recipe that Ada posted. I thought about doing some things a little different, and almost bought V8 juice instead of tomato juice, but decided to make the real, authentic thing just like Grandma would have. And Dad vouched for it! Along with a loaf of homemade bread (so glad for a bread machine), a fruit salad, and brownies, it was the perfect menu for a cold, rainy, March evening.

PROJECTS AND PARTYS

This is a picture of some ladies quilting the latest quilt. This was an easy one for me as it was all put together and all I had to do was mark it and put it in the frames. I will also bind it when it's done - probably take them another 3 weeks to complete it.

Finished this one today - yeahh!! Maralon Stauter embroidered the squares. I had to pick out the background fabric and sew it all together, mark for quilting, put it in the frames, cut 50,000 squares and fold into triangles to make the points, fit them to the sides, sew them on and attach the back!! Lots of hard, frustrating work, but turned out good in the end. There is also a 4-square wall hanging that goes with this queen sized quilt.

As I previously posted, Nathan had his #5 pirate-themed birthday party on the 12th. Looks like there were a few crazy pirates at the party!! I wouldn't let anyone like that in MY house!!

Crazy Hair Day

This is "Spirit Week" at Nathan's daycare. Today was "Crazy Hair Day," so I buzzed a strip of his hair and spiked up the sides. After school today, I buzzed the rest off, so he's back to normal again.
As for the rest of us...Heather C is training for a management position with Chipotle. Kelsie is almost done with her second year at JU. Heather W is on Spring Break this week. Jerry's still driving to Springfield everyday for work. I am planning to run the Lake Run and the 2nd Annual K5K!

Week-end Trip to KC

Perry and I returned today from a quick trip to KC. This was probably the most impulsive/spur of the moment trip we've made---but we were glad we did. Alice Caroline had her first birthday on Friday and it was fun to help celebrate. Carol

THIS AND THAT

Happy Birthday to Noah who is 12 today - one year away from being a teenager! Miles celebrated his 11th birthday last Wednesday.

Saturday night we had the pleasure of attending a fundraiser for the Downers Grove Christian School which is where Jason and Janice's boys go to school. It was a fun evening and we even knew a few people who we have met over the 8 years of going to the annual Grandparents Day program. It's hard to believe that Zac will be graduating this Spring and heading to high school next year.

Sunday morning we went to church with Jerry's nephew Steve and his wife Robin then out to lunch with them. We try to keep in touch with them as much as posssible as he is Jerry's only direct-line relative. It is always good to see them and catch up on their lives.

We've had to learn a little patience with our remodeling as we have completed all we can do and have been waiting for a couple weeks on the "professionals" to come and do the tiling and carpet. They should begin their work later this week - finally!!

We're glad Spring is here and are hoping to get outside soon and spruce things up a bit.

Save the Date

July 9 has been chosen as a get-together date for all Klops who are interested. This won't be a big reunion like last year, but a Saturday run/walk in the park and a nice big buffet restaurant meal at noon. I, for one, am looking forward to it! I will send a postcard to all, but mark the date if you are interested.

Friends in Japan

Some of you are aware that I have dear friends in Japan from an English as a Second Language (ESL) class as well as a Bible study. The husbands work in Japanese/US plants in Decatur and all know that they will be in the States for months or years and then return to Japan. During this time I have become very fond of some of them and so the earthquake news was especially alarming. Thankfully most of them live in the Osaka area, which is 350 miles from Tokyo. But I did get an e-mail from Mari Shimazu in Tokyo and they were fine--toys and dishes fell to the floor but otherwise OK. Sadly few realize that death and suffering result from the sin that marred the perfect world that God created in the beginning. But there is hope to be found in Jesus Christ.

First time for everything

Well, last Sunday I had the opportunity to do something I've never done before. On Thursday night Retta informed me that our Pastor had called and was not going to be able to preach on Sunday due to an illness. He had asked Retta to pray about asking me to preach on Sunday and for her to ask me to pray about it. On Friday morning, Jerry called me and asked if I had prayed about it and if I could lead the service, preach and serve communion as he was sick and could not be at church. I agreed and for the first time, I preached. Actually, I like to say I taught. It was very interesting to be completely nervous, yet completely at peace at the same time.

If you are interested in listening to the sermon it can be found here for download or listening online. I pray that God was (and is) glorified by the message. I had two days (of which I worked both) to complete and practice. I felt like I needed another day or two to practice, but I know that it went the way it did, not because of me, but because of God. I look forward to the next opportunity to teach others God's Word in that way.

As a side note, as we walked out of the house on Sunday morning for church I remembered that I also had to teach Sunday School and that I had forgotten completely about it. Oops. Fortunately my class is great and we worked our way through Exodus 27 together.

EDK

Update

For those who aren't on our e-mail list, our area isn't expected to be threatened by the tsunami. We're protected by other islands; however, areas to the north of us are predicted to be hit (or have been already-haven't heard so far). A friend who has friends in Japan say the devastation there is horrible.

Just wanted to let y'all know that we're fine but our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives are now turned upside down.

Gridley Cheese

I think it was Angela who had something on Facebook recently about Colby cheese. Which made me remember how one of the treats of going to Gridley was when Dad would buy a big hunk of Colby from the Gridley Cheese Factory to take home. I always think about that when eating Colby cheese. How did the little town of Gridley get a cheese factory? Whatever happened to it? What do you remember about Gridley cheese?

SUNDAY NIGHT

Nathan spent an overnight with us last Wednesday. It's been awhile since he stayed with us and he was SO excited. He meticulously painted (by number) a dinosuar and did a very good job! He was also excited to see his special bed on the floor - it was our nice queen mattress which is currently resting against the buffet in the dining room while we are sleeping in the guest room. It also served as a great trampoline. Can't you imagine his fun?!?

I painted our crown moulding boards last week. It was definitely one of the easier jobs we've done in this project as I didn't have to bend over, stand on a ladder, or lift anything - just paint.

Due to a sump pump failure, we had about 1.5 inches of water in the basement Thursday night. We discovered it about 9:15 pm and were up until about 11:30 "sweeping" the water back into the tank and/or using the water vac on the carpet. UGH!! We've had fans and dehumidifiers running and it is slowly drying out. At 11:30 we treated ourselves to a pepsi and cheese and crackers. We have not been having evening snacks lately and figured we deserved it that night!!

Jay Restored

Jay

Perry wonders if someone would know how to get the spots out of this photo. Thanks! Carol

Vintage items

I am working on a design project and was wondering if anyone had any old magazines, postcards, etc that would have vintage pictures or graphics. I only need to scan them and can give them back. Thanks!

Peter & Sophia's Living Grandchildren

Upon awakening early (very early) recently, a certain thought created a wide awake condition. This thought was that I am the second oldest remaining grandchild among the first cousins of Grandpa and Grandma Klopfenstein. Staggering!!! The following is a list. (Omissions and/or Corrections always welcome!)

Merle W. '25
Lynn K. '30
Alice S. '31
Carolyn S. '33
Nancy D. '35
Perry K. '38
Larry S. '38
Gene K. '41
Jim K. '42
Ada C. '43
Jerry K. '44
Paul K. '47
Jane C. '50

We are the remaining 13 from 33 total grandchildren. Reminds me of the old song, "We are going down the Valley One by One." I reckon READINESS remains the watchword!