Joplin Journal Volume 8-10, Issue 2

From the Editor's Desk:

Is it really the 17th of October? This month has been crazy! I was going to write a Joplin Journal last week. It was even on my to-do list. But then I realized that I didn't have much to say and it might be more interesting if I waited until this week. Besides, I was really busy last Saturday with finishing up the Five Fall Favorites blog party and trying to catch up on everything. But let's get started here before I write about all the interesting stuff right here.

Weather Report:

It has been below 40º! Goodbye chiggers! It was warmer earlier this week getting into the 80s and feeling like Indian Summer, but then it got colder. The leaves are covering the yard though most are still on the trees. Today we could get wind gusts of 45 MPH. Lots of dust I'm sure. Everything is dry here. We need rain. But the trees have really been pretty!

"Genius Burns":

Does getting a new idea for a short story count? Because that's all I've done. And the story idea came last night when I was in bed. Want to know my characters names?

• Mae Lynn De Ballot
• Mark De Ballot
• Earl E. Vote
• Ab Sentti Ballot

Project Prognosis:

Let's see. Last week I was busy with the Five Fall Favorites blog party. That's now finished and over. (I feel like I missed it.)

I am continuing to create writing assignments for one of my writing students. (Okay, she's my only student right now, but I'm just giving her her assignments at church on Sundays and then grading her papers when I have time.)

Since I'm working, I don't have a lot of projects I'm working on. Or at least I'm trying not to have many. :P I can't seem to always get out of them. :)

KDWC:

Well, the King's Daughters' Writing Camp has started! We have 76 campers + 5 "Aunties"! I haven't been around a whole lot yet because of work and the kids being over, but many of the campers have made good progress on their writing goal. There have been questions asked and answered, covers critiqued, and chatting happening. Once again we have campers from around the world and it seems that no matter what your time zone is, there is almost always someone who will write with you. (I'm actually writing this Joplin Journal as I sprint with one of the girls from the other side of the world.)

Deputy Clerk's Report:

Busy! I'm working from 9:00 - 4:30 Mondays through Thursdays. It's been crazy, busy, a little stressfull at times, but fun. :)

The stress came this week when one of my coworkers (the one who is pretty much in charge of the office in Joplin) was informed that a cousin she had seen 10 days before had tested positive for COVID. She had to leave work Tuesday morning which left the three of us to handle everything for the rest of the day. We had 141 voters that day! Thankfully, she was able to get tested and it came back negative so she was back at work Wednesday around 11. We had 115 voters that day. And on Thursday we had 143 voters. Talk about busy. It's hard to get much filing done. Not sure how busy things were yesterday. :)

Next week is another full week of work. The only difference will be on Wednesday when I have election training in the morning and then I'll go to work. And I've been told that it will only get busier.

Read Another Page Publishing:

I have published Lake Wood, Saving Miss Christmas, and What Tommy Didn't Know. Which book are you going to read? I was so thankful to have Monday off (I never appriciated days like Columbus Day until I started work) because I was able to correct and upload those books that day.

Babysitting:

Since Thursday was Jimmy & Megan's 15th wedding anniversary we had the kids that evening and night. And yesterday. ;) We had everyone except Kinsley. It was chilly when they arrived on Thursday late afternoon so we just stayed inside and played and read books and ate supper and played games. Sarah & Krista made sugar cookies with the cookie press.

Yesterday the kids were all awake early because they are no longer used to the noises of the city and the trains. ;) After breakfast Mom, Sarah, Krista, and James went to JoAnns, and I stayed home with the other kids. We went outside and make a pile of leaves to jump in from the swing. Then we played a game inside.

In the afternoon I took the older kids (Krista, James, Joel, Drew, & Lucas) on a bike ride to the end of the bike path near us and back. They are loving being able to get to go riding again.

Jimmy & Megan (and Kinsley) picked up the kids before 8.

Adventures with Wildlife:

On Wednesday evening Angela and I had gone walking and were stopped outside her house talking when our local fox came trotting up the sidewalk across the street from us. He didn't look our way, change his pace or anything when we talked to him. I think he's getting old. ;)

Book Nook:

Not much time for reading these days. I work all day, then come home and try to catch up on emails and everything. I did read and enjoy Tony Keating's Surprises, and I started rereading a Sue Barton book. Have any of you, besides my mom, read the Sue Barton books?

Farewell:

And here it is. The end of the Joplin Journal. Well, this week's episode anyway. As usual I have a list of things to do. Like vacuming the upstairs because it got dirty after the kids were here. And changing my bedspread to my darker one. And preparing to teach Children's Church tomorrow. And . . . and . . . and . . . ;) I'm just guessing, but I think Sarah is going to sew. ;) And Dad might work on things outside. He mentioned mulching the leaves in the yard. Mom will probably start the new puzzle she pulled out. Maybe I'll work the edge.

Anyway, I should go. I hope you have a lovely autumn weekend!