Just a funny photo to start out this month's happenings. I had a blood lab draw on May 2, and it was standing room only in the waiting room. I noticed this flattened mouse on the floor. I never saw anyone react to it, but I got a chuckle out of it.
On May 3, we went to a surprise 60th birthday party for our friend Randy Staley. He turned 60 on April 3, so part of the surprise was having his party a month late! He was totally surprised and we had a great time celebrating his life. A lot of church friends were there, and lots of his family.
I got a picture with his daughter, Felicia, who we hardly ever get to see
because she moved away from our area.
On May 4, we had Tom and Barb Szabo over for Sunday dinner. They are in our Church
Care and Connect group this quarter. They seemed to enjoy looking at the album of my quilts. I showed them the quilting machine downstairs and they wanted to see it in action. So later in the month, when I was quilting, they came over and Tom even quilted a little on a scrap of fabric on the side. I love it when I find others who love quilting!
Elizabath finished the dress she had started, and has enjoyed its comfortableness on several occasions.
This picture was before she hemmed it.
I started on Felix's quilt.
My sweet sister, Sherry, came to visit for a few days! May 6-8. Her JoAnn store that she managed so ably for 8 years closed and so she had the time to come and relax a bit.
We enjoyed eating outside, playing games, shopping together, and lots of talking.
We're praying for God's best for her in a low stress, fun job!
That night we got to see Jason and Karen at the first Commissioning service at GBS.
Karen had already slipped out.
These beautiful roses arrived on May 9 for Mothers' Day from Jeff and Lesa.
Elizabeth and I went to GBS graduation on May 10.
It was so good to see Anthony Paulus and watch him graduate!
Anthony with Dr. Allan Brown
Our view of the large graduating class.
There were five who received Masters Degrees this year!
Sonja Vernon was one of them.
The beautiful and yummy candle Rowen got for me for Mothers' Day. It had the wood wick which makes the crackling noise as it burns, and my favorite scent.
Randy had Elizabeth buy this beautiful begonia and wonderful chocolate truffles!
Elizabeth and I did some corsage crafting that afternoon
and I wore the corsage she made me on Mothers' Day.
She wore her new dress.
Some of the flowers the mothers received from the church.
The mothers are always expected to sing a special song on Mothers' Day.
We had quite a few mothers who were missing that Sunday and some didn't want to sing. Singles like Elizabeth were invited to help sing, but she was the only single who did.
We had Zach and Becca Case and girls over for dinner on Mothers' Day. We forgot a meal picture, but got this one of Elizabeth, Amelia, and Everly. Elizabeth had a fun time playing with the girls in the afternoon.
That afternoon, we heard loud noises in our water pipes. After investigating, Rowen found that our water main was broken out in the street. The Town of Florence guys were pretty prompt at tearing up our road and replacing the faulty water main saddle valve, so we had water back on by the time evening church was over. Our road has had the barricades since then, as it's quite a process to finish the paving repair.
On Monday morning, we got to see Lyndell and Sharen!
They were on an RV trip and we met at a breakfast place, then had them at our house for an hour or so to continue visiting, before they went on their way to see others. I'm so sorry we had such rainy weather for them that week, which didn't make for fun driving!
I'm so proud of Lyndell for losing so much weight and getting healthier.
I always appreciate time with family. Such a blessing!
Progress on Felix's quilt. It is a Lattice pattern, assembled on the diagonal.
We got the crocheted ALBERTSON stitchery that my daddy's cousin Sue Cavender made for us back from the matting and framing at Hobby Lobby. It has a place of honor on our dining area wall.
It was a work of love by Sue and we love it!
Rowen was in a wedding on May 17, so he picked up the rented tuxedo a couple days before we made the trip to Richmond, Kentucky for the wedding.
At the rehearsal. The bride and the maid of honor are identical twins.
Rowen had worked with Kacey, the groom, for six years. Kacey appreciated how Rowen had influenced him and spoken wisdom into his life. It was an honor to stand up for him as he married Erica.
At the Mexican restaurant after the rehearsal, Erica was sung to by the staff while she wore the sombrero. We had very yummy Mexican food to eat!
Pictures before the wedding
The groomsmen in "shades"
All the guests signed the board and highlighted favorite verses in the Bible.
Erica before the wedding
The wedding party picture
At the rustic reception venue at a farm
Meanwhile, Elizabeth went to a wedding in Indiana with the Strouds,
and Emily flew in for a week at home!
Brittany Stamper picked her up from the airport and they entertained each other until we got home.
Sunday, May 18
Good morning hug.
Late Mothers' Day photo
Emily enjoyed playing strings with Emily Hallam and Emily Witt Sunday night.
We took a picnic on Monday evening to Alexandria Park. Emily had never been there before and she loved the area.
The girls walked around the lake.
We got ice cream at UDF afterwards and the girls shared, and Rowen and I shared.
Rowen got me this hat to keep the sun off because of the medicine I am on.
Emily had a visiting friends day on Tuesday:
She saw Jenny, who has since then given birth to her baby boy.
She and Felicia split the distance and met at a cute coffee shop in Indiana for a visit.
I quilted Felix's quilt that day, leaving some to quilt on Wednesday so Barb and Tom could come over and see how it works. Felix's quilt has very soft flannel backing, requested because of his sensory needs. I also quilted larger, and used poly rather than cotton batting to make it extra soft for him.
Have I mentioned how much I love my new quilting machine? It is so fast and convenient!
We took time to play one game of Play Nine while Emily was home. Rowen won!
Emily got to see her friend Kimberly Kline, her baby, and her sister,
and others she happened onto at GBS campus.
On Friday, we drove up to Salem, Ohio for Joanna Johnston's graduation. Because she is Joy's sister, we got to see Joy and most of our SD grandchildren!
We enjoyed the drive in NE Ohio with all the rhododendrons blooming gloriously!
It was a cold day, in the 50s!!!!! So we wore jackets.
Joy and Janet
Elizabeth took games to play with Mandy and Josiah. We were in the Allegheny Wesleyan College coffee shop hanging out with family before the graduation.
Joanna, Jewelyn, Micah, and Emily
Emily combing Jewelyn's hair.
Mishael joined in the games.
Joanna, Micah, and Emily
Emily and Joanna, best friends since they were 8 and 9!
Joanna with our family. We claim her as one of our girls!
Pomp and Circumstance...
Mandylyn passed out during the commencement.
Josiah asleep across Emily and Jewelyn's laps; Jonathan
Mishael and me, the birthday buddies!
Joanna receiving her diploma
The tassel is turned!
Joanna in the slideshow
Joy and Joanna. (oldest and youngest of their family)
Joanna and all of Randy's family, except for Randy and James, who had to stay home in SD and work!
Joanna and Emily
Joanna before the ceremony
Emily and Josiah
Emily and Mandylyn
Joy, Jonathan, Jewelyn, and Emily
The Johnstons had a graduation party in their hotel lobby after the commencement.
It was all Joanna's family and aunts and uncles, us, and two friends of hers.
Joanna's Aunt Deb made this nap quilt for her, using painted pictures Joanna's grandmother had done years ago. That made it an extra special gift, because her grandma has been in heaven for many years.
At breakfast the next morning in the motel.
On our way home the next day, we stopped in Zanesville, Ohio to eat lunch with the Darrell and Regina Stetler at Cracker Barrel. They had been gone in revivals the whole time Emily was home, so it was our only chance for Emily to see them. We had such a sweet time together!
That evening, we ate supper on the patio. Thankfully it had warmed up!
It was just Friday that was so cold.
Sunday, Jason and Karen came over for dinner and spent some time with Emily and us. We were so glad they were able to do it!
Emily x3 played the special song at church Sunday evening. Day by Day. It was beautiful!
On our trip, Elizabeth finished the edging on her crochet project from so long ago.
Emily flew home early Monday the 26th (Memorial Day).
Rowen and I went to the Staleys for a large meal and visiting with our pastors and other guests.
I always enjoy swinging with my dear friend, Kim Staley, on her beautiful front porch.
Most every Sunday, we are pew mates at church.
The group that ate indoors.
Before picture: when Elizabeth started the doily in October, 2011.
After she washed it in Woolite, pinned and starched it to dry May 2025!
It had been put away, almost finished, for all those years. We are so proud of her beautiful work and finishing it. She says she has Grandma Scoles's crochet gene.
Enjoying our porch, pinning the pieces of the start of Piper's quilt.
Progress on May 28
Finished on May 31!
It has the same fabrics as Felix's, only a different pattern, called Nana's Quilt Treasures.
Emily took Felix's quilt home in her suitcase and took it to Felix on May 31. He loved it and said it was wonderful after sleeping under it that night!
We were given some cabbage, so we made krautburgers.
Flowers blooming in our yard this month
Irises
Climatis
Bleeding hearts
Lilies
My health has been good this month. The chemo pills I am on 2 weeks on, 1 week off have not given me any bad side effects. My blood counts have stayed within normal levels, even though they are in the lower part of normal levels. I walk every day, sleep in bed instead of the recliner, and my discomfort is controlled by Tylenol. After the current chemo cycle is done, I will have CT and whole body scans the week of June 16 to see if the chemo pills have shrunk any of the cancer in my bones.
I am blessed and thankful!
