We'll Miss You, Grandma Denny

Norma Denny
(September 2, 1929 - December 20, 2010) 

Norma J. Denny, 81, Reelsville, passed away on December 20, 2010 at Exceptional Living Center in Brazil.

She was born September 2, 1929 in Reelsville, Indiana. She was married to Willard Denny, and he preceded her in death.

She worked at RCA for 16 years and retired from food service supervision at DePauw University’s Longdon, Rector, and Hogate Halls after 34 years.

Survivors include her mother, Kathryn White; one daughter, Sharon Fellows and husband Devin; one son, Raymond Urton and wife Lori; a grandson Brent Urton and wife Kelly; four granddaughters, Melinda Hyde, Felicia Tindal and husband Jonathan; Jerilynn and Annaleah Urton; great grandchildren, Dustin and Erika Hyde, Robbie and Emily Urton, and Riley and Payton Tindal; and two step grandsons, Jeremy and Brandon Templeton.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 23, 2010 at Bittles & Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle. Burial will follow in Boone-Hutcheson Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon until 2:00 p.m. before the service on Thursday.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana. www.mcclainfh.com

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Diabetes Youth Foundation of Indiana.

A little Photo "catch-up"

I love taking pictures of Grandma's barn.   

Looking towards the bridge from down below the house at Grandma's.

Standing along the tree line behind Grandma's house looking up towards the house and barn.  You can see my mom and dad's house in the upper right of the picture.  Right beside where I am standing is where Scott's deer was on the edge of the field in the tree line.

Payton and Mason wishing this buck was theirs!

Mason was telling us how nice of a buck this was and how nice it's body was!

Scott's daughter, Raylan loves to go deer hunting with her daddy!  She wasn't along for this one, but enjoyed being there when they brought it in.

Scott helping Riley and Payton get through the barb wire fence.

Granny, Riley, and Payton at Uncle Raymond's on Thanksgiving Day.  Can you believe that this was Granny's 96th Thanksgiving?  Wow!  (counting her first one when she was 5 months old)

Jerilynn, Riley, Payton, and Anna on Thanksgiving Day.

Riley and Payton playing a DS game together at Grandma and Grandpa T's house the day after Thanksgiving.

Riley was all ready to watch Ramona and Beezus with me and pooped out about half way through!  However, I finished the movie by myself and cried my eyes out!  It's such a good movie.  Gotta love the nice, feel-good movies!

Not many people believe us when we tell them that Buki and Barkley have a very close relationship... honestly -- they do!  They eat out of the same bowl together, at the same time.  They sleep next to each other.  And they love to play together.  If Barkley isn't starting it, Buki is!  Oh, and if you haven't guessed it, Buki is now an inside cat.  We still aren't exactly sure how this happened, but it has something to do with Riley becoming extremely attached to him!

Jon, the kids, and I stayed at my Mom and Dad's until the Sunday after Grandma's funeral.  It was nice to just be there on the farm and enjoy being with family.  It was hard to look down at her house and think that she wasn't there.  It still just didn't seem real.

Saturday we went to visit Grandma Denny (my Mom's Mom) at the nursing home in Brazil.  She was sleeping and was hard to wake up, so we tried to talk with her a little bit, but our visit was short.

Saturday evening, Jon and I went to dinner together in Greencastle, while the kids went over to Aunt Loretta's to play with Mason, Jocelyn, and the rest of the crew.  Jessica had to learn all the in's and out's of diabetes in record time and she did a great job!  It was awesome to have a chance to have dinner with Jon.  Afterwards, we went back to get the kids and sat out by a fire with Jess, Jeff, Scott, Gwen, and all of the kids.  Just being together brought back so many memories of being kids and running around my Grandma's and Aunt Loretta's together.  I'm sorry that it has been so long since we've seen each other and especially sorry that it took a funeral to make it happen.

Sunday morning is when Scott got his buck and I took the pictures of the barn, house, field, etc.  My kiddos were so excited to be a part of the deer experience... such city kids, I know!  I remember being a kid and laughing at friends who would come down and be mesmerized when the hunters would get a deer... now it's my 2 that are mesmerized -- how funny!

Proverbs 31:10-31 Another passage from the funeral

A Wife of Noble Character

 ^10 [b]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
      She is more precious than rubies.
 ¹¹ Her husband can trust her,
      and she will greatly enrich his life.
 ¹² She brings him good, not harm,
      all the days of her life.

 ¹³ She finds wool and flax
      and busily spins it.
 ¹⁴ She is like a merchant’s ship,
      bringing her food from afar.
 ¹⁵ She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
      and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

 ¹⁶ She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
      with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
 ¹⁷ She is energetic and strong,
      a hard worker.
 ¹⁸ She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
      her lamp burns late into the night.

 ¹⁹ Her hands are busy spinning thread,
      her fingers twisting fiber.
 ²⁰ She extends a helping hand to the poor
      and opens her arms to the needy.
 ²¹ She has no fear of winter for her household,
      for everyone has warm^[c] clothes.

 ²² She makes her own bedspreads.
      She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
 ²³ Her husband is well known at the city gates,
      where he sits with the other civic leaders.
 ²⁴ She makes belted linen garments
      and sashes to sell to the merchants.

 ²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity,
      and she laughs without fear of the future.
 ²⁶ When she speaks, her words are wise,
      and she gives instructions with kindness.
 ²⁷ She carefully watches everything in her household
      and suffers nothing from laziness.

 ²⁸ Her children stand and bless her.
      Her husband praises her:
 ²⁹ “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
      but you surpass them all!”

 ³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
      but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
 ³¹ Reward her for all she has done.
      Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

The Dash

The Dash Poem
By Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that the first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show apppreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash
would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

This was another thing that was read at my Grandma's funeral.  I had never heard this before, and really enjoyed it.  Thought I'd post it here for safe keeping.... memory keeping that is.

Leaving Her Legacy...

Do not stand over me and weep, only my shell lies beneath this sod.
All that I am or ever will be, has returned to Earth, the Spirit and to God.

I am the wind that blows across your face, I am the sun that warms your back.
I am the stars that point the way when you are lost in thought or in the dark of night.
I am the moon that governs all things, far and near.

Please do not grieve for me, for I am not here. I have returned to roaming this earth as always,
In the moon, the sun, the stars, and the four winds.



These are the words that my Grandma had written and sent to our cousin in California for safe keeping until it was time to share them.  She had requested that this be read at her funeral.

On November 11, 2010, it was read by my Aunt Kaye. 

Grandma really was a neat lady and we miss her dearly.  Just to know that I can't pick up the phone and call Grandma, is painful.  Driving to my Mom and Dad's yesterday and seeing her house just down the road was painful.  My first Thanksgiving without her was painful.  This is the first time that I have lost someone close to me and it stinks.  The hurt, pain, lump in my throat.... all of it just stinks.  It's hard to see my children sad because they miss her, it makes me break down even more.  A memory of my Grandma flashed into my mind the other night and it was so strong that I literally had to just sit down and cry.  Riley came and sat on my lap and just hugged me, words other than "I love you" were not needed, she knew what was wrong.  I just feel "blah" and I don't like it because I know that she wouldn't want me to be this way.  Just yesterday, I caught myself wanting to share the brownies with her that I had made for Thanksgiving.  It was a diabetic recipe that Riley loves and just for a second I knew she wouldn't believe that they were made with splenda instead of sugar.  It's moments like this that hurt the most.

We'll miss you, Grandma Bessie

Bessie Jane Fellows

Born on: January 5, 1923
Departed on: November 7, 2010

Visitation: November 11, 2010 at 11:00 am
Service: November 11, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Burial: Cloverdale Cemetery, Cloverdale, Indiana

Bessie J. Fellows, 87, Reelsville, passed away on November 7, 2010 at The Waters at Greencastle. She was born on January 5, 1923 in Putnam County and was the daughter of the late Joseph McDaniel and Media MaDonna {Allee} Sanders.

On January 17, 1940 she married Douglas W. Fellows and he preceded her in death on September 9, 1979. She is survived by her children, Sandra Hansen and husband Robert, Greencastle, David Fellows and wife Brenda, Reelsville, Devin Fellows and wife Sharon, Reelsville, her sister Loretta Wall and husband Herbert, Reelsville, sister-in-law, Mae Sanders, Fillmore, grandchildren, Leigh Hinnefeld and husband Jon, Michelle Fellows, Felicia Tindal and husband Jon and Larry Hansen, great- grandchildren, Stacey and J. D. Hinnefeld, Stuart, Lauren and Drew Hansen, Riley and Payton Tindal, several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 2:00 PM at the Whitaker Funeral Home, Cloverdale with visitation from 11:00 AM until service time. Interment will be in the Cloverdale Cemetery.

She spent her life on a farm south of Manhattan. Her pleasure was the outdoors. She raised her gardens and flowers with much enjoyment. She was a farmer’s wife and after the death of her husband she continued to manage the farm that she loved. Her home was a haven for the many dogs and cats that found their way to her door.
Many years were spent working at the Mary Allison Children’s Home in Greencastle, was a 52 year member of the Golden Circle Club and also was active in the South Putnam Band Parents.

In addition to her husband and parents she was preceded in death by her siblings, Barthenia Addison, Virgil, Russell, Earl, Maynard and Arthur Sanders.

Condolences may be sent to the family at: cds@whitakerfuneralhome.net. 

Army Man meets Indian Princess

Carving Pumpkins

Ooey and Gooey!

Payton did not like the slimy-ness of the pumpkin "guts."  He said looking at them and touching them made him feel like he was going to get sick.  He unfortunately was serious.  The look on his pale face pretty much said it all!

Riley, however, loved getting gross and slimy!

She enjoyed every minute of this messy task!  

Another look at the slime inside a pumpkin!

My favorite little wooden pumpkins from Alexandria.

Payton LOVED carving his pumpkin!

This year, they had little wooden candy corns, too!

Payton's pumpkin.

Riley's Pumpkin.

Payton's pumpkin in the dark!

Riley's pumpkin in the dark!  Peace out!

Riley swimming her leg of the pumpkin relay.

Payton finishing his leg of the pumpkin relay.

Kids from both HCSC and Power Aquatics.

Go, Bethany!

Swimming in the dark with glow sticks -- how fun

This is Payton swinging his glow sticks around and around.

Riley and her friend Lucy.

Smile, Payton!

The swim club (HCSC) had their Halloween party this past Thursday and it was a lot of fun!  The kids warmed up, had a relay contest with a pumpkin on a kick board, and then they turned out the lights and the kids swam with glow sticks!  It was fun seeing all the green glowing in the pool and the kids were all having a blast!  All this fun followed up with hot dogs, cupcakes, juice, and a treat bag!  

Great Website

I was looking online for the carb count in Reese's Pieces for Riley and stumbled across this link (click here).  Even though it hasn't been updated for a few years, I'm sure the candy and carb counts haven't really changed.  Hopefully someone else will find this as helpful as I did tonight!

Doesn't She Look Beautiful?

After a few failed eye tests at school and a visit to the eye doctor, it was determined that Riley should wear glasses while she is reading and doing school work.  She wasn't very happy about this, but has remained a pretty good sport.  She did perk up a bit when she tried reading while wearing a demo pair with the same prescription.  She said she could immediately tell a difference.  Her daddy and I really like them, I just wish they didn't make her look so much older!  :)

The 2nd and 3rd Grade AFC Champions!

I have to share with you all how Payton's football season ended...


Final game (the Orange Bowl), and they were getting beat 12-7 with about 2 minutes left on the clock.  This was the first time all season that they were down.  They tried to run the ball.  First, second, and third downs unsuccessful.  


Now there was only 40-45 seconds left on the clock.  Payton was playing QB.  Fourth down play starts.  He throws a beautiful 20 yd spiral pass and the receiver actually catches it and runs it down for a TD with only 6 seconds left on the clock!  


I think I forgot to breathe during this play.  It was amazing!  The boys were so excited!  It was adorable.  I think Jon was just as excited as they were if not a little more!  He was as much fun to watch down on the field as the boys during all of this.  


Even with as many people that were there, we cannot find anyone who was taping it!  Bummer.  I had my camera and my video camera, but wasn't using it because I was so sad that they were losing.  Payton was a little upset with me at the end of the game because he wanted to watch the play over and over again.  I tried to explain to him that if he would have let me know the plan ahead of time, I would have been recording it!  :)

Fall Fun

Meet Buki

Buki, pronounced boo-ki with a long i, is our new outside kitty cat.  We adopted him from the animal shelter and hope that he ends up liking us and sticking around.  We also hope that he is a good mouser!  We have a snake problem out here (see posts from July of 2008) and have high hopes that if the mouse population decreases, so will the snake population.  We named him Buki, because it means weapon in Japanese.  He is our weapon of "mouse" destruction.  Gotta love it!  He will be sleeping in the "Kitty Condo"(aka "the shed") after spending a few days in a large crate so he can get used to us.  So far, he seems pretty attached to us.  I just hope he sticks around once he has freedom...


****EDITED to add that Buki is now an inside kitty cat!  I don't think he had a chance to hunt down even 1 mouse!

So, What do you think?  Does he look like a mouser????

A Wonderful Day With Payton!

Today was the 3rd grade field trip to Conner Prairie and I was fortunate enough to be able to attend!  Payton and I had a wonderful day together!  The weather started out shaky, but the clouds rolled over and the sun came out.  Our group consisted of myself, Payton, and one other friend from his class.  We stayed with another group of his friends and they all were really well mannered and just little gentlemen!

Dearest Payton,
Thank you for a wonderful day today!  I am so proud of the young man you are becoming!  I had a lot of fun with you today.  I am glad that I could share in your field trip fun!

Love,
Mom

I absolutely LOVE this picture of the 4 boys!

He did say that he'd like to get one of these.... I am seeing a Christmas present in the future!

There are no words for this picture!  He's a ham!

Gotta Love a "Living Museum!"  Everywhere you go, everyone you see is playing their roles.  We couldn't even ask someone a question and get a modern day answer! :)  We went into a house right after a very rowdy group of boys and made mention that it's a crazy day, just kidding around with the lady... and she responded to us with "Well, you know in a little over a month, they will all start taking their lessons seriously and life will be different here on the prairie once the harvest is over."  Payton just stared at her with this "Are you serious" look on his face!

This outhouse is a "double seater"... how crazy is that????