My Week

 

I was going to perform Amber's Christmas Story on Wednesday at the window of the nursing home at 10:30 but it was too hot.  Rescheduled for September 8th with a back up date 15th.   Meanwhile, I practice.  I hope to do a final on YouTube with an evaluator on Sep 24th so I can submit it to AKC Elite Trick performer by October 1 for entry into their additional contest.

Wednesday evening I attended a Civil War Zoom meeting that I learned through https://civilwartalk.com/

 It's been so muggy that I just took forever to dry my hair naturally even after walking the dogs. I then used my hair dryer but then it was hot and muggy. 

 

Ya know, it's one of the few thing in this "new normal" that's an outdoor event with social distancing.

Saturday evening I helped Diann with her cat from the veterinarian clinic.  She is on a walker and needed a little help getting this "barn cat" in a rehab situation.  Seemed like I was the 4th person she asked for help.  I brought her some towels and plastic bowls.  Helped her set up a litter box for a recuperating cat in what she referred to as an apartment in the barn.

Sunday Morning I went on a balloon ride on "Glorious Drifter".

I offered my sons a ride with me but was turned down.  I learned that Sean was afraid of heights.
I got up at 4AM on Sunday to meet the 6AM meet at the Comfort Inn in Lincoln IL.  There where Air Force veterans on our balloon ride of 5 guests.

 Here is our group photo before take off at Mayfield Park in Lincoln, IL.  I understand there was room for one more on this flight.

Here I am with our pilot:  Tim Cloyd.  What a nice guy he was and very informative.  I can tell he really enjoyed what he does.

I know our pilot mentioned "sea level" but I think we were 300'. I think our balloon was higher than some others at the balloon festival but this was the largest balloon also. 

   Other balloons hover near the wind generators. I thought this was cool.  Pilot mentioned there was some wind affect in that area.

It's a feeling so high in more ways than one. So happy to share these photos and happiness with friends.

 Below is our shadow in the early morning sunrise. We landed in that triangle patch right ahead by the trees.  I saw a deer running along the tree line and pointed it out to the others. We were told how to brace ourselves for the landing by bending our knees as the basket will tilt forward. The ground crew was right on us.  The pilot gave the balloon about a 4 foot lift above the weeds.  Then the ground crew tethered the balloon over to the clearing by the farm house. These were bad weeds with green burs.

There's our chase vehicle on the rural road staying close by for our anticipated landing.
The chase crew have apps on their phones to track the balloon when they can't see it.

 The below video shows the ground crew dragging the balloon to a across the nettled field to a nearby house with a nice open area for tear down.

"Dorothy Rose" has landed. 
It was so cool. Worth every penny to fulfill a dream in our Heavenly skies in a balloon with a cross called "Glorious Drifter". Taking off was smooth. The landing...well...brace yourself and bend your knees. We had a good pilot that let us down as easy as possible but the basket will still tip on landing.

This is our chase vehicle at the pick up point on the farm.

Yes I brought Old Glory on this flight.  Possed in front of the pallet flag on the property which we landed.

There was a closing ceremony after we arrived back at the motel.  A story and a toast.  We didn't toast but still got Champaign signed bottle.  I didn't expect that.  Guest were encouraged to sign their "memory book" after the flight experience.

 Of course the mask issue came up on Facebook.

 

 More photos found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/39064462@N04/albums/72157715763142946

I came home and watched Mass virtually and then Sean came to do laundry.  I had Mo do weave poles with a lure. Sean seemed amazed that his dog did that so I had him try.  I told him that the dog must enter the weave poles on the dog's left shoulder but sometimes is skipped a few bars.  Sean was just elated that his dog could do it.  I showed him how Amber does it without a lure but rather a finger signal and reward at the end.  Still he was amazed.

I found more nut grass burs in Sophie's pantaloons when I brought her to bed. I hate this time of year that pains her so much 

My Week

Word is out that there were fewer fireflies this year.  I did see them in early July but not as many as previous years.  Now we are into spider season.  I walked into a web that wasn't there the day before.  Now we are into cicada season and Amber likes them.   They are like little battery operated toys that buzz when she bites them.

Tuesday I got the results of Sophie's virtual AKC Rally Novice trials.  She passed this one.  I added the judge's comments at the bottom of the video.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaeIJ7zTz4I

This video she did not qualify.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIAMUfy1n2E

I mailed off 25 hand made masks to New Mexico to help fill an urgent request on Get PPE.  I was low on elastic and it was on order and arrived the same day.

It's the anniversary of the 19th amendment and so many are dressing like suffragettes so I thought I might as well join the group of women.

So I shared a different angle from the back side of PowerWorks Fitness in a group know for pictures with bins (based out of Australia apparently that has gone global).  People from all over the world complimented my photo. 

 

Thursday I took Amber to open practice.  After the general practice session, I practiced our Christmas story but she was distracted because of a scent planted on a wagon in the room for nose work practice.  I had only had one class on nose work and was not introduced to any odors. Then the class suddenly was postponed because the instructor broke her foot and was laid up with surgery.  We just got the dogs used to fetching a kibble thrown in a box.  We were told NOT TO PRACTICE at this early stage. We resume the class this coming Monday. Amber is a natural sniffer.  I often wanted to cut that nose off her to stop her from sniffing and focus on my trick training.  Those present saw her instant and untrained talent but all I saw was a dog that didn't do what I wanted her to do. we go back to nose work class Monday. We stopped when our instructor told us don't do this at home and then broke her foot delaying the next class. I think Amber is in the wrong skill set when she did nose work naturally.  Well this is also the same weekend that some of my friends from the club got to boast of their nose work titles.  Here I am frustrated.

I spoke with my nose work instructor and she will not bump Amber up into a more advanced class.

 Sunday we received palms after Mass since church services were closed during the COVID-19 shut down.  Then I went to the VFW District meeting held at my own post.

 I made a website and a twitter for our Catholic War Veterans Post 1916.   National CWV keeps changing the given site and then deletes everything.  So it's about time we have something we can control.  Dues had been paid by our post if we worked the beer sales booth at the state fair.  Unfortunately, three years ago, the workers were not paid, so then we refused the following year.  Now this year, the fair has been canceled.

 I watched New World Order: The End Has Come (2013) | Full Movie | Rob Edwards | Erin Runbeck | Melissa Farley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku8-F4aR9bM

Sunday evening, I stopped by county market and only one of the four self-checkouts was working and I broke it too.  Clerk had to finish my check out at customer service and closed the the self checkouts.

I made some Olsen masks with a seasonal flare.

  I have more brilliant prints cut out but wanted to finish the fall collection.  I didn't think this fabric appropriate back in March but look where we are now.  I've still been working only with remnants in a trunk that was given me years ago.  The big deal is separating breathable cottons from other fiber types.

I end this with a night of Nose Work class with Amber.  Taking it slower than I'd like to get C-Wags.  I'm board with it so far but I guess Amber likes looking for treats in a box.  I only hope it curbs her distracting sniffing from her other performances.

 

My Week

 So many butterflies this time of year.  A storm knocked down most of the surprise lilies.  No surprise.  But we did need the rain.

My neighbor had  a Uhaul leave before the pandemic.  She told me she got a new job in
Washington DC but she won't be fully moving for a few months since her husband's job needed to transition as well.  This week the Uhaul came back.  I simply said "welcome home" as she shrugged.

Tuesday I went to core class followed by cycle.

 

That evening, I went to the VFW where scouts were interviewing veterans for a project. I brought my black robe from Saudi Arabia to show them.  I also gave them a scout photo album that was new that I found at the Goodwill the week before. Afterward I had chicken dinner there.

Wednesday evening we had our first Amvets meeting since the pandemic.  We had a few guests but I still worry about making a quorum.  So many of our older veterans in the group have passed away.  The deceased members do not drop off of our roster either when we report them.  So I created a memorial page about them. 

I found an old old old red dress at the Goodwill.  So old that the threads in the seams were rotting apart and needed reinforced.  I saw the potential for a Christmas program dress that would be much cooler for Christmas in July so I added the fur.  It slips right over my gym clothing so I don't have to worry about changing.

 I fixed some Santa masks for our local Santa whom I plan to recruit to narrate Amber's Christmas Story.

Les Morgan tried all of them on and this is the one that I feared would not fit.  He thinks the larger size will fill out with a fuller beard come Christmas time.  It was really fun being creative making these especially off season like this.

Thursday morning my yoga class was canceled due to lack of participants signing up.  I did take Amber for open practice and got there early to set up Amber's Christmas story.  We performed well until about two thirds through the program.  Amber broke out of the barrier and lost concentration when she heard a dog barking in the other room.  

Thursday evening I went to the Catholic War Veterans meeting.   Dues are up next month and I'm thinking of changing my status from annual to life membership.

After my exercise class on Friday, I gave a practice of Amber's Christmas Story to the group. She waited outside while we exercised. She was in my portable metal pen.  Once loose she had a double spurt of run before settling down.  There was a soccer ball player at the other end of the turf to distract her.  I believe she just needed the run.   Overall, it was a cute program.  I did decide to change the cookie scene to something lighter.  The spatula and snowman plate was cute but awkward for her.  This is the new cookie on a white plate which is a little more visible too.

I've also added a backdrop for her program.  It was on eBay by just the sheet of plastic.  I added a fur ring and slipped some pvc through.  I'm glad I left the excess fur off the ends because I may need that to clip onto something.  I thought it would be better to roll it than to fold now that I've to the pvc pipe on the top.  I looked everywhere for a pool noodle and they are all gone.  I used water pipe insulation foam instead and glued it right in the slit provided with rubber cement.   It's light and will blow in the breeze.

I just realized that I had a doggie Christmas stocking in the attic.  That will do for her end reward.  Boy this is fun!

Sunday I went to Mass and helped as a Eucharistic Minister. We wear masks when not in our pew or taking communion and then recover.  I noticed that afterward, when cleaning the cups, where all the removed misselettes were stored.  Our readings are on the big screen.  We have to sign up in advance in keeping with church capacity reduced restrictions. 

I learned a new medical term, "glossitis".

Notice any resemblance in Amber's natural look and our president?  Of course she has a summer cut now.

My Week

This is the week that the 10 day state fair would have begun but it's been canceled.  Temperatures cooled off a bit last week and I did get some yard work done.  Then the weekend came and took it all back all the pleasant temperatures and gave me heat and humidity   The mosquitoes returned also.  So did cicadas and Amber found them fun the way they buzz around.   I also saw something different....a cicada killer.  Hideous looking but harmless to people.  As I publish, we've had a day that was 92 degrees and a late afternoon storm brought it down to 68. 

 

I made a mask out of 100% silk.  I heard it's more breathable.  Well, it isn't.  I may just take it apart and add cotton liner and see if that works..

Then I tried this pattern and it is breathable but I would rather use ties than elastic because they pull my hearing aids out.  However, I also like that head band that pulls the elastic off the ears too.

You can find instructions here .

During the 4th of July, I wore my patriotic dress that I got on Ebay last year.  For a summer dress, it sweat and stuck to my skin.  The polyester made it feel like a sweat box.  This is the photo from the eBay purchase.

I took it apart and used it as a pattern for another patriotic cotton.  This is the first try on and I found a pin still in it.  It's not yet hemmed.

I wore the dress Sunday to a brief Purple Heart Day ceremony 🇺🇸💜.  I held a flag along with one other member of the Patriot Guard.

This is a clip from the local newspaper.  You can see 2 people holding flags on both sides of the PH memorial.

Here is Amber in her "Hot N Spicy" ensemble posed by a metal cactus.

I recycled the potting soil from the mushroom plant that I got on Mothers Day into my pot since it didn't produce a second batch.  Well, not until now.  These mushrooms did not last.  They turned soft like poo after 2 days.

Saturday I carpooled with Kim to the High School in Altamont IL for Nosework 4 exams.  I was curious about this sport since Amber's sniffing habit needs to be focused.   The sponsoring organization was Kudos for Canines.  We left Springfield at 6AM.  One of the entrants came from South Carolina to try for their title.  I played the role of the "sheet runner" between the judge and the recorders. Judge Ashley was a dog handler in the Air Force.  It was interesting to watch the dogs as they searched for an odor.  This day I wore a mask longer than ever.  

It was a very mild week and the air conditioner did not come on until the weekend. 

Veteran of the Month ~ March 2011

Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Honors Chatham Woman as March 2011 Veteran of the Month Air Force Veteran Rosemary Connolly recognized during Women’s History Month

Veteran of the Month with Bill Wolff VFW State Commander

Newspaper Article:

Chatham resident receives Veteran of the Month award The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) celebrated, in conjunction with Women’s History Month, U.S. Air Force Veteran Rosemary Connolly, of Chatham, as the March 2011 Veteran of the Month on Friday at the American Legion Post 32 in Springfield. http://www.sj-r.com/archive/x1161119750/Chatham-resident-receives-Veteran-of-the-Month-award

Soldiers Angel is Veteran of the Month in the newsletter.  (link no longer works)

Video of the ceremony as taken from my Flip Camera:

https://vimeo.com/21216143

Veteran of the Month March 2011 from Rose Connolly on Vimeo.

Illinois press release:
illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=2&RecNum=9288

My Week

The library had a pets with books photo theme on Saturday on Facebook so this is what I submitted.  Sophie is a little angel so she has her nose in the Bible.

Amber is reading about dog training and learning tricks.

Here is a photo of Amber at the club's Ring Ready obedience practice.  There was green tape throughout to mark off six feet.

I found a new and easier pattern to making masks here.

https://leahday.com/pages/how-to-make-a-face-mask-free-pattern

I like the fact that it has a pocket for a nose wire and filter and all in one piece.   The only drawback is the fact that the user could be confused about the inside/outside use which side is contaminated. 

Thursday evening I went to a meeting of the Interveterans Council of Sangamon County.

Friday morning I went to breakfast with some of the friends in my Powerworks Masters class.

I went to church on Sunday and took a picture of our cardboard cutout of Pope Francis with a mask.

I was about to mow my lawn after the break in the rain.  Just as I was getting the yard ready and policed for removal of the hose and clearing of dog debris, that's when my Lawn Doctor weed control truck pulled up.  Saturday I finally got my lawn mowed.

Sean came for laundry as every Sunday.  I clipped Mo's dew claw.  Mo chewed up the plush doughnut I was using as part of Amber's Christmas Story.  As I get closer to Christmas, I think I can find a replacement for her to use as part about her leaving a cookie for Santa. I noticed some small gingerbread men in felt at Hobby Lobby that she could bake and put out for Santa.  I was going to walk after Sean left but Sophie insists on the car ride. The last couple weeks I took her with Amber to the club but class canceled. So I came up with a little drive to the lake where there's a landing for fishing and walked there. 

Mo had chewed on the plush doughnut that I had used as a practice Christmas cookie for Amber's Christmas Story.  I got some little gingerbread men at Hobby Lobby and then I thought I could make a bigger one with felt after those that I bought.

All I need is a baking pan.  I had requested some tabletop Christmas trees on the nextdoor app.  A woman responded with 2 for the Christmas program.  I am so pumped. 

Monday evening, I went to the VFW board meeting and now I'm tired.  Must pick up next week where this week left off.   Later ~