My Week

I noticed  that when I got home from my trip last week that my lawn was taller than the neighbors.  I had hoped to hold off cutting the grass (which was done before I left) to mow leaves when they fall. I'm not expecting too many leaves since I had the tree cut down.

 Tuesday Amber went to the groomers.   I didn't want her groomed before she trialed for her Beginner Novice because I thought she might stop and scratch herself.  By then, appointments were pretty booked in advance.  So I also got an appointment for Sophie in November.  I brought Sophie to pick up Amber. Sophie knew where we were and started shivering, just as Amber did when I dropped her off.  I may have to go visit the groomers for a happy, casual visit.

Tuesday evening I went to have chicken dinner at the VFW especially since a lady was going to drop off entries for Voice of Democracy that night.  She trusts I'll see that they get entered for the scholarship and not in any black hole that she had experienced years ago.

For many years I had been trying to research my Kapasinski great grandparents.  Only a few records exist.  So after years of trying to fix the root of the problem's records, I decided to mark the graves "as-is"  recorded by Holy Cross cemetery.  

Here's what is online for their graves:

  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183795972/vincenty-kapuscinki

When I was driving to Louisville on Tuesday, Oct 18th, I received a call from Dr Taylor, the chiropractor affiliated with Powerworks Fitness, that I had bumped someone in the parking lot on Monday.  I told him I had no clue what he was talking about.  He said it was me and that it was captured on video.  I told him I would be out of  town for a week.  He said he would show me the video when I got back.  Meanwhile my mind is bothered.  The stress over this kinda ruined the trip's enjoyment.  Dr Taylor called the following Monday while I was driving home and said that they were eagerly waiting to close the case for repairs.  I told him I still had no idea what he was talking about and that I was still not in town.  He said Oh it's definitely you on the video.   Tuesday I stopped by to see Dr Taylor to see  the video and he said he didn't have the password but that Libby could show me on Friday.  Well Libby called me Wednesday while I was in Mechanicsburg at agility practice.  She had to leave a message while I was running the course.  She asked me to stop by and see the video and I stopped by upon  return.  Arriving at the parking lot, there was a sheriff's car in the parking lot that blew up my nerves even more. Sure, it's not uncommon for officers to want to get in shape but I was already tense about this accusation.  As soon as I walked in the door she saw my face and said "it's not you" and showed me the lady in the video that that had the accident.  She's like 20 years my senior and they put my name on her face in the video.  A case of mistaken identity.  I nearly fainted because Dr Taylor adamantly said "definitely you".  Dr Taylor saw me and turned me away on Tuesday when I came in person to see the video, he said he didn't have the password to show the video.  He never saw the video or he could have said it wasn't me that had an accident in the parking lot when he saw me at that time.  My face and hair was way different.  Dr Taylor is the same chiropractor that tried to manipulate my spine without an xray when I had un-diagnosed spondylolisthesis and I fear he did more harm than good.  His credibility sunk to a new low with his certainty in both cases.  Meanwhile, the victim's repairs were delayed a week by this error.   Shame!  

Wednesday afternoon I helped decorate for the the DAR 25th anniversary party this coming Saturday which I cannot attend due to agility trials.  It looked real sharp with lots of various types of flags.  In the evening I went to the quarterly meeting of the Veterans Assistance Commission for which I am secretary.

Thursday I went to 8:30 Mass, printed documents at the library, mowed the grass, got an oil change, cleaned the guinea pig cage, and in the evening assisted with a station for our Club's beginner agility class.  I like the class and feel helpful to the new handlers with some skills that I didn't know that early like the "front cross".  I volunteered for this class because it was scheduled as an outdoor class.  That meant I didn't have to wear a mask.  As time progressed, it got cooler and darker earlier and now I'm  the only station out in the fenced yard at the club.  We have a big flood light and I don't think 55 is too cold to practice.  One person that came out after visiting station rotation inside said it seemed crowded.  Besides, I can hear better outside except when the train goes by.

Saturday and Sunday morning I got up early and went to Glen Carbon for Canine Performance Events (CPE) trials. Overall we gained 8 qualifying scores (Q's) and 2 (NQs).  It was a masked event but unlike previous events, we didn't have to run with a mask in the ring. As tired as I was after I came home on Saturday evening, I still found time to go to Chris Bron's Octoberfest themed birthday party.

My German edelweiss sweater since the evening was cool.

Enjoyed the music.  Not all the guests are pictured.  Some stayed near the beverages in the kitchen.

I saw an old breed of dog that was new to me abbreviated as PBGV, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (peanut butter garden variety to remember just the initials).  I looked that up in my dog book when I got home.  

Alright, some may not care so much how we did at the trial but if nothing else, I must record how it went (and what I was thinking at the time).  All this was accomplished with heel pain from plantar fasciitis all week.  I wasn't always feeling it.  I got some insoles the day before to help. What made me feel a little better was seeing a few that ran their dog with a limp and a cane while off the line.  Also, there was a very pregnant woman running her dog on Saturday. When I asked her when her baby was due, she told me a week and a half.  She had family with her in our kenneling space. 

Look at her run in that pregnant condition!

These toy poodles would pop their heads up and reminded me of "Whack-a-Mole" game.

During one of the recently upgraded runs in level 3, I was really surprised to see 12 weave poles.  Up until now I've only worked with 6 and sometimes not so good.  So a few other exhibitors reassured me to go to the end as if there were 6 but if she pops out, to either correct her direction first otherwise take her to the beginning.  Never ever let her back weave to the beginning. So when it was team Amber/Rose on the line, Amber took off zooming around.  I looked at the judge and just said "I don't know what to do" for which the judge can't help me.  Well as it turned out, that cost me a fault for off course but I did get her back once Amber got her head back on track and best of all we did the 12 weaves flawlessly.  However, I didn't go back to look at the results expecting a failure for all the mess we had in the begging.  Turns out the lady that gave me advice on the 12 weaves did go and check and returned to tell me we still passed with 2 faults resulting in 2d place.  I was sulking over a loss that turned out positive and began to cry happy tears because we have worked so hard together.

I got my email for my results but don't let that "first place" fool you. It doesn't count if there's an "NQ".

Amber. 30319-01. 09-01-17. Border Terrier. Owner: Rosemary Connolly, 808 Timberhill Rd, Chatham, IL 62629. Handler: Rosemary Connolly.

    Saturday 10/23/2021:
               Wildcard L2 -  8 Inch - Judge: Carol Thom
               Distance: 89 yards  SCT: 50 seconds
               Score: 5 (Q)  Time: 30.25 seconds  1st Place

               Jackpot L3 -  8 Inch - Judge: Carol Thom
               Score: 46 (Q)  Time: 37.34 seconds  1st Place

               Snooker L2 -  8 Inch - Judge: Carol Thom
               Score: 15 (NQ)  Time: 24.12 seconds  1st Place  (dropped a bar so it didn't count)

               Standard L3 -  8 Inch - Judge: Carol Thom
               Distance: 145 yards  SCT: 70 seconds
               Score: 10 (Q)  Time: 63.84 seconds  2nd Place  (I thought this was an NQ because of off course zooming run that she did and another fault with a bar down so I didn't even go check our score.  Once I got her back on course she did real well to finish.  I didn't know what to do but call her back to the sequence. Apparently getting her to focus to finish paid off and someone else had to tell me we passed.  I was emotionally surprised that we Q'd. What's even bigger news is that this is the first time, in trial or practice, that we had to do 12 weave poles instead of 6)

               Colors L3 -  8 Inch - Judge: Carol Thom
               Distance: 98 yards  SCT: 50 seconds
               Score: 0 (Q)  Time: 21.80 seconds  2nd Place

    Sunday 10/24/2021:
               FullHouse L2 -  8 Inch - Judge: Carol Thom
               Score: 22 (Q)  Time: 18.94 seconds  2nd Place  (This was a choice course.  I was conservative going for points and had plenty of time to rack up some more time-wise.  I needed 21 points to qualify)

               Standard L3 -  8 Inch - Judge: Carol Thom
               Distance: 142 yards  SCT: 69 seconds
               Score: 0 (Q)  Time: 48.17 seconds  1st Place  (Completed requirements for level 3 on Saturday and I should have moved up Saturday to level 4 but I didn't mark that down for the trial secretary)

               Snooker L2 -  8 Inch - Judge: Carol Thom
               No Time  (After the initial sequence of "red then obstacale" three times for strategy, I was to begin the final sequence and should have wrapped the jump.  Instead I had her back jump so she went off course)

               Jackpot L3 -  8 Inch - Judge: Carol Thom
               Score: 57 (Q)  Time: 47.11 seconds  1st Place

               Jumpers L2 -  8 Inch - Judge: Carol Thom
               Distance: 92 yards  SCT: 42 seconds
               Score: 0 (Q)  Time: 21.20 seconds  2nd Place

My plan was to wrap that number 2 jump and go 3 through 7 but we back jumped to 3 which was off course then because I only had to jump number 2 once as it was bi-directional.  Kickin' myself over that.  I will be in "snooker" kindergarten level for a long time.  Other courses are now creeping into upper levels.

Our final photo with the ribbons taken with a timer over and over till I got an acceptable capture of us and the ribbons next to the timer squawk box.

There were not many photo stations at this place but there was advertising on the ring's wall with the Native American Piasa Bird famous for the local history along the Mississippi River.

 Volunteers were given tickets to enter into a raffle.  There were various things I could have bid for. I got this raffle.

Did you know Illinois is the number one pumpkin producing state? There are more than 500 pumpkin farms in our state. And, get this, 80% of the pumpkins produced commercially are grown within a 90 mile radius from Peoria.

 

My Trip to Louisville

 Monday I dropped of Amber, Sophie and Blanche at my son's house .  The weather was rough and there were a few tornadoes sighted. I got up early Tuesday and hit the road to Louisville, KY for our Women of the Air Force Association reunion.  This venue was cancelled last year so I was really looking forward to it.  We only had rain on Friday but the rest of the week was fine.

I checked in at the Holiday Inn East.  I had a time zone change.  I was scheduled to volunteer at the registration table at 5PM to 7 but the schedule changed and the table was closed for the banquet.  

Wednesday morning I decided to go for a swim.  I took a photo before swimming with a new 2-piece suit I got over 2 years ago when Gordman's went out of business and never had a chance to wear. After a little dip, this newly remodeled hotel and key card didn't swipe. I went to the front desk dripping wet and she could not get master key to work either. The the maid came also. So she popped off the dial and used an old fashioned real key. Meanwhile an expert is called.  The service man was called and he couldn't get the "fix all" key to work.  Seems the electronics was bad.

In  the morning we conducted our business meeting followed by a group photo in the hotel lobby.  

In the afternoon we had a trolley ride to tour Churchill Downs.  Our driver was a navy veteran and his wife had been in the Air Force.  Adam, our trolley driver, took a picture of me riding a horse at Churchill Downs.

In front of the tomb of Barabro

Eight Belles

Me on the second floor of the museum on a horse at the gate

Dare I step on the jockey scale

overlooking the theater room

female Jockey

female jockies

I'm in love with a winner

Ok, probably for the kiddies to dress up like a jockey but heck, young at heart.

In the evening we  went back on the trolley for a buffet and Jack-o-lantern spectacular.  https://www.jackolanternlouisville.org/   

OR THE FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/louisvillejackolanternspectacular

The dinner was  pulled pork boxes but the walk through the park was much better than I expected.  This year's theme is  the history of TV. 

Thursday was the day I looked forward to because the Civil War Women's museum was on the agenda and First the driver got us a little twisted around looking for the Civil War Museum so we had lunch first.  Here's the website:  https://bardstownmuseumrow.org/exhibits/

I found this sign that described the trunk of an Illinois surgeon displayed with a confederate surgeon. 

Trunk belonging to Charles Martin

Notice the sign on the trunk with this display of a Confederate surgeon

In the evening we had dinner at historic Talbert's Tavern.  I walked around the square which had a traffic roundabout.  Traffic was very considerate of the crosswalk.

 

Sharon Zimpher recognized my name tag and rushed out to tell me we had a mutual friend with Joan. How  about that!

Friday we went to the Louisville Slugger museum and the Peerless Bourbon Distillery.

The giant bat as you enter the museum

Baseball Bloomer Girl

Bloomer Girls

Fort Nelson by George Rogers Clark

George Washington made whiskey

Giant David on the strip

Tents under the bridge near the distillery

There was an old car in the lobby at Peerless

Peerless Bourbon tour 

Alex our tour guide

I think the mash unit looked a bit "steampunk"

Alex knew a good back drop for our tour group

 

 In the evening we were to have a supper cruise but the rain canceled the cruise portion aboard the Mary Miller paddle boat.  As you can see, there even was a rainbow over the Ohio River.

We had to wait to board the boat and it rained so I hid under the bridge.

 

 

Saturday I went 60 miles to Harrodsburg to see Pleasant Hill Shaker Village with Sharon whom I've share a seat on the bus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtUkvSoMd8I

On the way to the village we had to stop at "Four Roses Distillery" just because we got mini-bottles at a previous gift shop.  All of their tours were booked by appointment but they did have a nicer looking gift shop and grounds then the Peerless tour the day before.

My GPS took me a short cut through a narrow road to the Shaker Village.  I didn't realize that many of the building's upper floors were converted into hotel rooms for people to stay overnight.   We weren't hungry when we got there about 11 so we did a self guided tour.  An hour later we were and learned the restaurant also needed a reservation so we ate late at 3PM.  Meanwhile a cinnamon swirl slice held me over.  We had catfish for lunch and over the conversation we narrowed things down that we both lived in the women's barracks at Barksdale.  I was on the second floor and she was on the first.  Then we discovered we got married in Chapel 1 about a month apart.   That was amazing.  I left Barksdale in May and she in August.  Who knew?

HEAVEN AND EARTH:  The shakers viewed work as an act of worship and broom making was especially meaningful work as it resulted in an important tool to be used to clean the earthly realm.  For Shakers, cleanliness was close to spiritual purity.  Shaker rules, hymns and recollections exhorted Believers to clean their rooms and public spaces and the notion of "sweeping" away sin, disorder and impurity is found throughout Shaker writings.  

"Keep all things in order, as keeping the law of heaven." Shaker communities were highly structured to avoid physical and spiritual chaos. Everything was organized, purposeful, neat and efficient.  Peg rails aligned the walls to provide a place for everything from tools to clothes.  Chairs were numbered to indicate proper location. Oval boxes provided easy transportable storage.  

Bonnet mold: Unlike the modernist movement of the mid 19th century the shakers were motivated by spiritual quest for perfection. This quest not only led to precisely crafted chairs but permeated throughout their entire culture.  Their spiritual truths embraced their everyday lives. their community structure,  innovative pursuits, diverse population and sustainable practices. The Pleasant Hill Shakers flourished on this site from 1805 to 1923. They were an intentional religious community seeking  to create a world that reflected their conceptions of Heaven, a place of divine perfection. Their lives were guided by a deep spirituality  and Shaker material s a reflection of these spiritual truths. To understand the Shaker world one must understand the Spiritual Shaker world.

Arch Kettle

Bone Button

A horse resting from the carriage ride in the stable.

Jonah Crutcher (colored) deceased at the West Family of dispepsia being of 44 years old the second day of last April. He was a slave and being hired by believers received faith in his testimony and confessed his sins on the 15th of October 1839 and he continued to be a faithful believer we continued to hire him, that he might have the opportunity of continued instruction and obey his faith until the 4th of January 1859 when it became apparent that he would be sold south and we purchased him that he might enjoy a privilege in the gospel in equal terms with the rest of us which he  did and & continued faithful until the day of his decease. He was much respected & beloved in the family he resided which was not misplaced for he was worthy.

Much repairs on this Shaker dress.

Cooper Barrels

Expressions of Faith: Shakers found the spirit of God through song, dance, and physical motion. Overtime these expressions alternated between erratic and organized.  Locals took notice of Shaker's worship sessions that included expressive convulsive movements and loud vocalization. As Shaker communities became more established the dances became more structured and wordless songs more hymn-like. The new era of worship in the 1840s brought a return of unrestrained worship. Regardless of method, worship became a vital way of Shaker life.

Converting New Shakers:   As the Shakers established new communities throughout the east, missionaries traveled west. worshiping publicly to spread the spirit of Shakerism. Shaker missionaries competed with Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodist with stronger written and hymnal traditions.  When they reached Kentucky and Ohio in 1805, they were pleasantly surprised to find others already using similar physical expressions of worship.  There, the  Shakers found kindred spirits unafraid to worship through dance.    

Shakersism and Christianity: Shakers, like other Christian sects, followed the teachings of the Bible. Each sect interpreted the works through a different lens of their beliefs, however, resulting in different practices.  Shakers believed that the confession of sins was the true gateway to heaven and rejected mainstream Christianity of the idea of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in favor of the principle of duality.  These beliefs inspire the Shakers to form a perfect Heaven on Earth and reflected their acceptance of diversity and gender equality in their community.  [note that a tour guide mentioned that they created a new family that was celibate and did not need to procreate since they believed they were living in the end times]

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55270158/francis-pennebaker

There was also a wedding on the site the day we visited and the photographer was busy as we waited for out table to be called.

 

 

Sunday morning I went to Mass at St Albert the Great Church.  I was impressed with the priest's enthusiasm and smile as he presided the service.  I told him so as he met those leaving and told me he liked my smile as well.

 

Judy wore her uniform. She presented the colors for the pledge.  All 3 officers took turns reading the names during the memorial portion of our program

 

Miss Jayne provided entertainment at the closing Banquet

Officers were installed with a chocolate bar commensurate with their duties.

 The end.

This is a pet-friendly Holiday Inn and it was nice to get my pupper fix.