Monday, October 12, 2015

Yesterday Robert spent 6-8 hours in Salina at our former
home.  The young couple who bought the place are not
good caretakers.  They don't seem to know how to do
anything...I thought he was a Water Engineer??  But,
he certainly isn't anything like Robert.  They had two
plumbers look at the water system, but they were no
help.  They had no water for a week!  Robert talked
with Chris at Russell's birthday party last Saturday.
We were in Salina for that..more about that later.
Robert showed Chris how the high pressure tank
works and how to add air and why and when this
might be necessary.  He also taught him how to
measure the water in both cisterns and on and on.
Eventually Robert got everything working again
without buying a new pump.

Saturday afternoon we went to Salina to celebrate
Russell's 80th birthday.  Michelle Grainger had
talked to Russell to find out just what kind of a
celebration he would like and that is what was
arranged.  We all met in the Little Church in
the Pines for a Vesper service and the official
was Kate Cook who lives in Salina and is also
an Episcopal pastor.  She read a very short 
piece and then Marti played a prelude on the
old organ which sounded a little strange.  The
poor organ has survived a fire and 2 floods.
Then Russell played several pieces with his
sound equipment; Steve LeGoff read a
summary of Russell's history with interjections
from Russell.  Russell played several more
pieces interspersed with Readings and the
congregation singing.  Kay gave the Benediction.

After the service we went into the back room
of the church for the party.  Russell had a
very impressive turn-out for his party.  There
were about 40 people present.  The refreshments
were also ordered by Russell and consisted
of small triangular sandwiches, soft drinks
and carrot cake.  Michelle made the sandwiches
and Karen, a Salina resident, made the cakes
which were delicious!!!

It was good to see everyone having a good
time and being together again.  The two
new-comers that have caused all the trouble
were not invited.

While Robert was in Salina yesterday I called
people we haven't seen in years like the
fellow who took over the square dance group
that Robert had started, when Robert and I
quit dancing.  It was good to talk to him and
hear all the news of the "gang."  He cc'd me
on the e-mail he sent out to the group. 

What I told everyone was that Robert didn't
want a hullabaloo, meaning party, for his
90th birthday, but I new that people would
like to celebrate for him in one way or
another so asked for a "shower of messages"
whether cards, texts or phone-calls. I
really enjoyed talking with so many friends!

Last evening Robert received a Text from
one of my nephews (oooppps), but Robert
was happy to hear from him and answered
him asking about how things were in Oregon.
Today I was cc'd on a note an old friend
had e-mailed to Robert congratulating him
on his 90th and she also mentioned that I
had contacted her about it...so I went to
Robert's e-mail and archived her note and
will resurrect it closer to his b-day.

This afternoon I got to watch a squirrel try
and try to get seeds from the bird feeder
hanging by my office window.  He
manages, somehow, to get on to the window
sill by my office window and then leaps,
and it is a leap, to the feeder.  As soon as
he lands, the weight of his body, causes
the feeder to close all the feeder holes.
He tried everyone, no luck.  He finally
gave up and jumped off.

So far we are having a gorgeous fall. 
Yesterday it was 81 and very windy,
today it is in the mid-70s and not so
windy.