Exploring

Things to be shipped from the depot. Notice the coffin. And the chickens.

The depot was so cool. It was from the early to mid 1900s and the things that look like butterfly nets by the wall are actually devices to deliver messages to someone on a moving train. So cool!

Another view of the depot office. I would love an office like this one.

Picture of a root cellar. That is real food. Potatoes and pears.

This is Ann Arbor, not Sauder Village. This is one of the fairy doors.

Shout out to Angy.

A CPS guy.

On Saturday Jessie came down and we went exploring. I wanted to see some of the sights in the area, and I asked one of the librarians if she had any suggestions, and she mentioned Sauder Village. It is about an hour away in Archbold, OH. It kind of reminds me of Rockome Gardens, but more authentic and a bit less cheesy, though to be fair I have not been to Rockome Gardens since it's had new management. Anyway, we had such a good time! Every building had someone dressed in period garb and they gave a mini tour and explanations about the building. Many buildings were little shops and people were doing authentic crafts. They actually made the wares in the stores like in the weaving shop, basket shop, tin shop, broom shop, glass shop, pottery place, etc. We both bought leaf tea in the herb shop. I had to buy a tea ball too, as I had never bought leaf tea before. Strawberry Tingle Rooibos. It smells good. Jessie bought 100 Monkeys tea. :-) We spent about 4 hours there and it didn't feel like that at all. There were other people there, but it wasn't crowded, and we often were in the buildings alone and were able to get a personal tour and information. We talked about pigs feet with a lady in one of the old houses from the early 1900s, the guy in the woodshop made us wooden hearts from a pedal powered saw, and Jessie tried her hand a basket making. There was also an old printing press that still worked. It was so cool!

Our favorite, though, was definitely the barber shop. An older man was our "tour guide" and he new so many cool things. He showed us the curling irons for the handle bar mustaches, the hand powered clippers, and the personal shaving cups. Also, I now know what the barber pole stands for. In the middle ages, the barber also acted as a surgeon and bloodletter, and the white stood for bandages, the red for blood, and the blue for the veins he would tap into. Rather gruesome. He was so cool, but we didn't get the chance to go back and tell him that he was our favorite. He was replaced by a younger guy in a red barber vest. Sigh. We were disappointed.

The village had some Mennonite roots, so they had a display on the CPS, and I took pics for Angy.

Also, we really enjoyed the depot. It reminded me of playing around after meetings as a child and sneaking into the old depot outside the meeting house. Many of the buildings reminded me of the Rutherford house and its out buildings. They had a doctor's office and jail too. Their's were better kept, though.

I am so glad that we found Sauder Village. It's not that far and it was a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Fun activities and good conversation and friendship. I'm glad that I now have some time to explore the area. The main thing is to have people to explore it with.

Coming Again

My house feels like the 2nd Coming. I call it my house, it kind of feels like my house, I treat it like my house, but it is not my house. And anytime the owner could come back and find my dirty dishes and blanket and unvacuumed carpet. And not be happy. It's really not that bad, we just have different standards. So, now when I leave something undone, instead of being able to just leave it until later, I have the feeling of, I hope she doesn't come back today and see my dishes. I think that's what I do with God too. Leaving things just a little undone, just a little unprepared. Well, I need to keep my life and my house in order. Because they could come back any time.

Also, I feel like I'm in the middle of a mine field. Especially when I drive at night. Deer are everywhere. I've seen several in the middle of the day.

I am moving on in the past. Other people moving on in the future. They are starting new jobs in new places, meeting new people, making new friends. I have the advantage of familiarity, but the disadvantage of feeling displaced. What I was used to only 3 months ago no longer applies. I now have to figure out new things in an old place.

They're Back

I had a wonderful weekend. Friday wasn't too hot, but Saturday and Sunday were. Friday was faculty/staff meeting where the president spoke and proceeded to freak me out about world events like the war in Europe and the situation in Iran. I then went to the faculty/staff dinner which was supposed to be in the arb but was in and around the music building due to the weather. It was hot and muggy and though I did know people, I wasn't necessarily overly comfortable or close with them. But, it was a good meal.

Saturday was the Free Fest with the church which is essentially a carnival to let the community know that we are here and we care. It went over very well and I had a good time serving food and working the football toss game. Sunday was of course Sunday school and church, which was good, as always. The sermon was about having a hope of something better than this world. It was a big encouragement to me. I have something to look forward to, not to fear. It reminded me a lot of my dad because he often talks of the hope of heaven and being disillusioned with this world. Then, I worked 3 hours at the library because it was freshman move in. Handed out a lot of applications and answered questions. After that, I raced to Wal-Mart and then back home to throw together an oriental salad for the church potluck at the pastor's house. I had such a good time there. Just talking with people and sitting outside under the cool shade of trees. I am so blessed. And I miss two friends, as do others members. They've been asking.

I need to plan some meals and then run to the store. I'm afraid it will be Wal-Mart, as that's what I'm most familiar with.

I also hope to meet up with some college friends tonight. The first three weeks were not bad, but now I feel like I am surrounded by peers and I don't belong anymore. I don't share in their experiences. It's kind of weird. But I like my life right now, and I don't miss papers or having homework hang over my head. I leave my work at work.

Baby Steps

I just did a happy dance. I did not procrastinate. I had to revamp my resume, and instead of waiting until tonight when I am tired and out of sorts, I did in now, after work. This is a rarity for me, and I am very proud of myself. It very well might not last, as old habit die hard, really hard, but it's a step. Hopefully.

I am making potato soup, out of a box, which goes against the grain, but it is supposed to be quite good. I bought it from one of those home food parties, and the food really good. Later in the fall I'm going to get my mom's potato soup recipe and make it. She has the best potato soup. I also want to try my hand at fried sweet potatoes again.

I am a fan of breakfast for dinner.

The students are coming back. Honors' retreat and then RAs.

I am listening to "Turkish Groove" music. Good stuff. But I like "Gypsy Groove" the best.

I know several people who are starting teaching jobs this year and they didn't do the education program, but I did and I am not teaching. Funny how that works.

I get to go to Bible study tonight! We are going through Ecclesiastes. I'm bummed that I missed half of the book. It's really good when you can discuss it with other people. I love Bible discussions in Bible study and Sunday school. I learn a lot from others because they see things differently and God speaks to people differently.

Blessings

Communist regimes are perfect. People are perfectible. That's why they can make their coaches sign contracts that state that their athletes will never get injured. That's why they can refuse to let a little girl sing in front of a crowd and put a cuter lip syncer in her place. That's why they bulldoze house churches and arrest pastors and evangelists. If you make enough demands, if you get rid of the people who are causing trouble, if you get rid of the "diseased" of society, then things will be perfect. I despise China. And fear them. That regime is so ridiculous and scary in its skewed logic and "crimes against humanity" better known as terror tactics. And they have the biggest population in the world and a booming economy.

I made soup today. Greek soup with orzo, eggs, chicken broth, and lemon. It was pretty easy and tastes ok. I'm not sure about the lemony taste. I used lemon juice instead of a fresh lemon. The recipe was out of my new ethnic foods cookbook that I got from the Dawn Treader. It was compiled by Community High School in Ann Arbor.

I cannot find matzo meal. I want to make matzo balls. I'm going to try the natural food store. Maybe they'll have it. There is obviously not a large Jewish population in this area. I did find a mix for matzo balls and soup in Market House, though. But I don't want instant matzo balls. I want to try to make my own.

Moroccan history is rather interesting.

Wisdom literature is not a good foundation for theology, but it makes good trimming.

I want to make cookies. But I should make zucchini bread instead tomorrow because I have a zucchini. I believe the housekeeper/janitor left us some produce yesterday, and that's what I snagged. I left the peppers for more adventurous eaters.

A lovely weekend

I had a lovely weekend in Ann Arbor visiting with friends. We got in about 7 or 7:30 PM and then went out to eat at Jerusalem Gardens, which serves Middle Eastern food. We ordered a pot of Turkish coffee, which was very good and unique, and were then wired for the rest of the night. :-) Good food, good friends, good conversations. Stayed up late. Then, in the morning we had chocolate cake for dessert. And listened to Bill Cosby's sketch on feeding his kids chocolate cake for breakfast while we ate it. So good and so funny! I think it is on youtube if you want to listen to it. We then walked around downtown, went to the Dawn Treader and 10,000 Villages, ate Thai food, and then saw a production of West Side Story that night. A full weekend, and so good to see everyone again. Weekends are hard if you don't have anything to do.

Second week of work, here I come.

So far...

It is raining really hard right now. Maybe the grass will get green and soft again. Dry prickly grass is not pleasant.

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is Friday. It has gone by so fast. Ugh, cliche. There is some adjusting to do, but I think that it will be fine, even though it is a computer job. I sit and research coins all day, but it's actually very interesting. I'm learning, which I like to do. And soon all I'll be able to talk about is coins. At least it's better than talking about Burger King all the time. :-) Coins are more interesting than you may think. There is so much history attached to them.

My car needs new spark plugs and maybe new wires. Ugh! I have new wires, but the old spark plugs may have ruined them. I'm not pleased, and I need to get it fixed so I can travel this weekend. It should get done tomorrow while I'm at work. I hope the wires are still good.

I ordered a book in Russian today. It has some information that I would like, but unfortunately, I cannot read Russian. So, hopefully some of it is in English. Also, I miss my German major friends. I wish that they could translate things for me. :-)

The steam is swirling off the asphalt and the sun is bright orange, sparkling off the leftover rain, shining among the trees.

Starting My New Adventure

I am back here, sitting in my shared living room with my "landlady." More of a friend, really. I don't get wireless access in my sitting room, but I do in the living room/dining room area. It is hard to believe that I am going to be here for a whole year. I was getting excited on the way up here, especially with the sunshine after the rain shower.

Last night my parents and I went to Stoney's, which is a restaurant in the bustling metropolis of Dalton City, population 600. It was surprising to find such a nice restaurant in such a podunk town. One of Dad's co-workers plays in a country band and he and the female singer play at Stoney's every Thursday. They were quite good. They played a lot of country western, which is Dad's favorite, though they did some modern country too. The entertainment was good, and so was the food. I don't think that I've been to such a nice restaurant. It is a very good steakhouse, with things like frog legs, chicken livers, and calamari on the menu. I ordered the crab cakes, which were very good, as was the twice baked potato. Then, the waiter brought out a tray of desserts. Oh, I wish that I would have had room! The gooseberry tart looked quite good. And, it was all hand made because they have a pastry chef. The one down point was the fact that my brother could not come with us, as he had to work overtime.

I have errands to run tomorrow and a lot of unpacking to do.