COMMON GROUND COFFEE HOUSE #80

[menageriekeeper]

Diane, Thankful is probably about dead from VBS like I am. I love it, but it sure does use up my energy.

I cleaned, but not what I was expecting to. I recleaned the living room, then decided to clean the guinea pig cages. That was kinda in the plan. Then I discovered that Son had broken a borrowed hamster cage.

It has to be paid for, to the tune of $30. Son decided to work for it rather than use his allowance. So I decided to use his paid for labor for things he wouldn't normally do, like helping me get rid of that juniper.

After an hour of us working together and another of me working by myself, I'm down to just getting the roots out. Couldn't have done it without Son's help. People who planted that stuff at least 7-8 years ago(maybe even longer) used landscape fiber around it. That stuff is tough and the roots are all tangled in it. It appears that originally there were only about 4 plants. The roots grow fairly shallow. If it weren't for that dumb landscape fiber I'd of had it all out and ready to replant.

Instead, I have 4 root balls to go and countless smaller, long roots that are tangled all up in that fiber. It is so bad that I'm just hoping that I'm not pulling out the roots of the crepe myrtle that is growing in the center of it all. If I do, well, T never liked it anyway.

Cindi

off to clean.....herself....and cook supper....

Oh yeah, the weather's been beautiful but cloudy and humid.

 

[dianetavegia]

Well I didn't accomplish much this afternoon but since we can't afford to use air conditioning, when it gets really hot, I don't move around much.

We cooked out and everyone was home and home early. The kids all had left early today too. I have the baby and MacKenzie tomorrow at 10:15 so I can sleep in.

I've GOT to iron or Jim's going to work in his underwear tomorrow!

I'd LOVE to be able to do some plantings here. When we first moved in, we had money for plants. Most died. Now I have no money for those things and really miss it. My butterfly bush off the deck, however, is HUGE!

Nick and his friend caught a turtle. He wants to keep it as a pet. It's much bigger than a baseball so I told him he could let it live in our backyard. He wanted to keep it in the house.

We've got a running fountain and plenty of bugs. The yard is fenced so it'll probably take a few days to get out. He's trying to come up with a name for it now.

Hey, I was watching a documentary while Jim was online and it showed how someone can contact Expedia, Mapquest, Whitepages, etc. and find out everyone who looked up directions or phone numbers and then track it down to Mr. Jones at 111 Whatever Way, That City looked at a map to your house last Wednesday. They're catching killers that way!!! Neat! Also, emails never go away! You can delete them but they remain on hardware for your ISP and the senders ISP so if someone promised to pay you for a cat and then kept your cat, you could prove what was said or not said. I just figured deleted meant deleted. NEAT!

Diane

 

[blackbird]

Tomorrow is last day of VBS Ramblin' Road Trip for us!!! I've been teaching 3-4 grade boys---and as usual I always wind up having to "improvise & adapt" to the lessons-----we have a lady in the church who has a '56 Chevy BelAir --- she let us "borrow" it and us "Boys" went out "Ramblin'" yesterday!!!! Was it in the SBC lesson plan????? Noooooooooooo----but hey----when you have a brain like Blackbird's---and you mix it and mingle it with 3-4 grade boys----you do a "Road Trip" in the real thing!!!-----budddddddy---when the 3-4 grade girls found out that we went "ramblin'"----ohhhhhhhhhhh---you talk about jealous!!!!!!

 

[dianetavegia]

I'm pretty disappointed in the stories for the 4 year olds because it's the same things we've had once or twice in S/S this 'year'!

Rachel's going to do day 1, 3 and 5 and I'm doing days 2 and 4. Generally day 5 is a shortened version.... and also, I wanted to do the ABC day.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Oooh, separate classes for boys and girls, huh, blackbird? Very good idea. It is something I've been casually suggesting to no avail for several years. Nothing against mixed classes, but girls and boys at this age learn in such different ways, plus it is easier to handle one group or the other.

Diane, this is the first year in a long time that I have felt like I could spend a little money on plants. Except for the hanging baskets on the front porch, plants just aren't on the priority list. Usually the hanging baskets are my Mother's Day present.

Well supper's cooked and eaten and I'm having a nice cup of Earl Grey tea. My voice is suffering from all the talking this week. Hopefully I won't lose it till after tomorrow. T won't mind if I can't yell at him this weekend.

 

[Thankful]

Here I am!

Grandson is with his dad tonight so I can get on MY computer. Muffin went to Bible School today and he was quite a hit. He loves children, but he had never seen so many in one place.

It is really quiet here tonight. Not one television is on.

Year old Grandson came over last night to play with Muffin. Actually, we had a mini family reunion. Muffin was so excited to see Ed's son. He started barking telling us he was at the door. Muffin rarely barks except at strangers and dogs, but this was a happy bark.

Mk, I can't remember when I have been so tired. One more day.

I'm just getting too old for VBS and visiting grandchildren.

A little humor here: I received a call from my eldest granddaughter who lives in Florida. It seemed that the two 13 year old grandsons were Instant Messaging each other and she couldn't get her brother off the computer to do his chores so she called me to get my visiting grandson off the computer.
Well, it worked!

Good evening and I'll be back on again when MY computer is available.

 

[dianetavegia]

Ug... I've ironed a few shirts and pants but it's still HOT and is 86° in the t.v. room. I think I'll finish the rest early in the morning before it gets too hot again. Jim's turned on the whole house fan to pull in some cool air.

We do separate classes after certain grades. I've actually forgotten how it's being done this year. Our S/S classes split at 6th grade and up. I'm supposed to have about 14 kids in my class and that would be great! I'm so used to having way more than that in Sunday School!

I'm watching a rerun of CSI. I've only seen it twice before. Wish there was a good monster movie on.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Evening all:

I am heading for bed. We had "Seafood in a Bird's Nest" from First Wok tonight. It was delicious. I only ate half for supper and saved the other half for lunch tomorrow.

Brent will be home from camp sometime tomorrow evening. The peace and quiet has been nice, but I am ready for him to be home. I miss him!

Pleasant dreams all!
§ue

 

[blackbird]

Originally posted by menageriekeeper:
Oooh, separate classes for boys and girls, huh, blackbird? Very good idea.

Yes, a brilliant idea!!! At that age---the boys are all sayin' that the girls all have rabies anyway!!!!

And then to add to that----these same 3-4 grade boys are all asking if I were going to be teaching VBS 5-6 grade boys next year because they liked it that I took them "ramblin'" in a "real smooth" ridin' machine----that '56 Chevy!!!!

I believe Blackbird will have a desire to teach the boys again---but only if the VBS theme is Star Trek----with star ships that can go from 0 to Warp 9 in two seconds flat!!!! Or a Star War theme with Obi Won Light Sabres!!!!

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

At that age---the boys are all sayin' that the girls all have rabies anyway!!!!

Blackbird, it USED to be cooties...

Good morning all:

Just popping in for a quick cup of coffee. I need to get ready for my podiatrist appointment at 8:00 this morning.

I am hoping I can stop wearing all the pads and gauze and just wear a large bandaid. It would sure make it easier to walk (and get my toe sandals off and on)!

Another muggy 90+ degree day with severe thunderstorms forecast - the usual.

HAGD!
§ue

 

[AVL1984]

Morning all:

I finally got to sleep some last night. Got up once or twice,but other than that, wasn't a bad night. I got up at 6:15 instead of the usual 1:45am.

It's already 80 here and going to be hotter than yesterday...again with chances of rain!

Sue, I'll be praying that your appt goes well.

Blackbird...we have the Ramblin' Road Trip going on next week in the evenings. I don't know how my wife and I are going to be able to handle it when it's going to end at 8:30pm. Viv said she's leaving early. I guess I'll just let someone take me home afterwards so I can help clean up afterwards. We're having people improvise here, too with props, etc. This will be the first VBS for Vivian and me in the SBC, though we've been in it for three years.

Well, I've popped the coffee on. Viv's still in bed. I decided to let her sleep. She's been pretty worn out this week, and she hurt her foot somehow, somewhere, though she doesn't know how or when. She just noticed last night that it was painful and swollen. She has arthritis, and that's what I'm thinkin' it is. I hope it's nothing more...

Well, ya'll have a great day! I've got to go out in a bit and water the garden.

T

 

[dianetavegia]

Just a quick hello. I've got a lot to get done today so I don't have to work all weekend and next week is VBS from 9 til 12. I have to be there around 8:30 and won't be home til around 12:30 and then will have lunches and kids to put down for naps so y'all will have a nice break, from ME. LOL

Remember to pray for Terry H. His CAT Scan is at 3:45 Texas time today. See prayer forum.

Diane

 

[Debby in Philly]

do any of you SBC folks ever consider using materials for VBS or Sunday School that aren't from Lifeway? i evaluate all the major evangelical publishers and pick out what I think is best, more interesting, most relevant, etc. without just using the same one every year.

if you don't consider other sources, why not? i don't mean other denominations even. what is wrong with standard, gospel light, dc cook, group, etc?

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

When I went to an SBC church and taught VBS, we had to use the material they sent us. That went for Sunday School lessons also.

 

[dianetavegia]

We've used other material before but the Lifeway SBC material seems to not only be more interesting for large groups but has EVERYTHING you could ever need.

 

[Debby in Philly]

thought maybe it was a loyalty thing, or that the others weren't "baptist" enough. for vbs, since i make the decision, i go with what i think the kids would relate to the best, what was more "doable" in terms of theme, had the best stories, all of that. Treat each year with an open mind. also, you can get in a rut using the same formula every year.
just curious.

 

[dianetavegia]

The manager of our local Lifeway (who also is the lead in man for Beth Moore) is a member of our church. I LIKE the VBS material but the stories for the little ones seems to dumbed down for the 4 year olds I teach. I do need to remember that 3/4ths of our attending 4 year olds are kids mom just wanted to send to VBS but never attend S/S. The stories will be new to them.

Diane

 

[AVL1984]

I like the Lifeway materials. Nobody forces our church to use them, but they are comprehensive enough that we like them and use them. If there were something better for our particular sessions, I'm sure we'd be using it.

 

[dianetavegia]

A few years ago, I called Lifeway and asked what was the LEAST I could buy and still run a VBS. Our country church had just discovered the secretary had stolen thousands from all the accounts, taken checks, cash unknown, etc. Lifeway GAVE us all the material for every expected child, decorations, videos, CD's, etc and then asked how old our hymnals were and what was our need in S/S material! They tithe a portion of their 'income' to helping poor churches. I cannot say enough nice things about Lifeway.

 

[dianetavegia]

Uh, Oh! Thankful and Cindi are VERY quiet! Last day of VBS. Hope they survived! Next week is VBS for Tony and me. Y'all can tease us!

Wonder how Terry's doing. It's 4:45 so his CAT Scan should be over a few hours ago.