TeamReedBlog.2020

When I moved away from my rural childhood home, some friends and family were worried that I was giving up a lot and getting very little in return. Down home, when there's a death or trouble in a family, the church ladies get together and make a big meal or series of meals for the survivors. Small towns will band together an have fundraisers for other issues, or just send the kids over to mow the yard, bale the hay or do whatever needs doing but can't be done due to said trouble. And family, of course, is always around and available to help you out. I'm not even IN trouble (not really) and I have all of the above and more thanks to wonderful friends who have become family. I've already mentioned the gifts and flowers, food and drink and treats that have come my way since my hip surgery - for which I'll be eternally grateful.  Last week, Jeff was contemplating bailing on an overnight work thing that had been scheduled for months.  But after three weeks of taking care ...

I've been envious of murals that have popped up all over Broad Ripple and other parts of Indianapolis for a while now. They always make me smile when I run across them, and I've been talking for years about doing something like it at our house. Before we covered our interior back porch wall with wine box panels, I'd considered a mural there, but never got the job done. The exterior west side of our garage has always seemed like a canvass in search of paint, too. But no longer. I am beyond happy with this splash of happy flowers that Nikki Lazar, one of Alison's dearest friends, just finished. The mountain scene in between the sunflowers reminds me of our California trip. You can't quite see the setting sun and the reflection of it and mountains in a lake at the bottom of the mural due to a canna lily that I planted last year (thanks, John Vielee) before we commissioned Nikki. It took her only a couple of days once she got started and had all of her supplies. We talk...