April is ending as it should with some spectacular showers. May brings many great opportunities for fun in Indianapolis (thank you Kathy Petrovic). May also leads us to an important question:
When do you begin to garden in the greater Indianapolis area? A good rule of thumb is to wait until Mother's Day for both annuals and perennials. The Old Farmer's Almanac site is another traditional way to check whether the weather predictions for planting crops. It can help you phase your plants. This doesn't mean that you can't start your plants indoors to transplant outside after they germinate.
Another Spring issue is what to do about wild animals, especially the babies. Baby birds, rabbits, squirrels, etc. etc. etc. will be showing up everywhere. If you find a nest, leave it alone. If you find a baby animal, leave it alone. You can set up camp a good distance away and watch. The parents are out grocery shopping. They will come back and feed and care for them. The same goes for sick or injured animals. State and Federal laws prohibit the possession of wild animals (especially migratory birds). Here is the information direct from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources):
| If you encounter an injured or sick wild animal, do one of the following: –Take no action and allow nature to run its course –Call a licensed wild animal rehabilitator as listed at wildlife.IN.gov and click on "Wildlife Rehabilitation." –Call the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife at (317) 232-4080. –Call your DNR Law Enforcement district headquarters or regional headquarters; contact information is at dnr.IN.gov/lawenfor/2755.htm. –Call a licensed veterinarian for immediate assistance with a sick or severely injured wild animal. To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov. |
| Contact Information: Name: Michelle Cain Phone: (317) 234-8240 Email: mcain@dnr.IN.gov |
You may have noticed the signs in Carmel for a special election on Tuesday, May 2. Carmel Clay Schools is asking for the currently operating referendum to be renewed. This referendum was passed in 2009 and generates $14.5 million for our schools.
We only have two more weeks of meetings left to our 2016-17 year. The time has flown! Here is our end of year program wrap up schedule. We will have International Bible Study Conversation class as usual.
International Friends
May 2: Let's make tiny, delicious looking, fake foods out of polymer clay.
May 11: Let's pitch-in for our final party! Everyone is welcome.
English Classes
May 4: International Friends End of Year Party, 11:00-12:00
Celebrate our end of the year all together with a classic American school pizza party! We are providing it all! Just come join the fun!
May 11: Final class of the 2016/17 year
International Church Services: May 4, 12:15-12:45 in the chapel. Everyone is welcome. Come an experience a Christian service adapted for people new to English as well as anyone unfamiliar with Christian worship.
Spring Issues: problems that happen in the spring months
in the greater ... area: in and around a city
annuals and perennials
crops: plants grown intentionally for use
start: start to grow, plant
transplant: move a living thing a to a new, permanent location
germinate: when seeds begin to grow into plants
set up camp: prepare to wait.
prohibit the possession: do not allow something to be
encounter: meet, see
allow nature to run its course: leave the situation alone even though it looks like the end result will mean that the animal may die
operating referendum: this is a direct a question for the voting residents to weigh in on whether they want to continue to pay the revenue generating tax to support the fundamental business activity of a public entity (something that exists separate from everything else)
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 201
As we read the opening verses of Acts 17, once again we see Paul and his companions traveling, this time to Thessalonica in Macedonia. And once again they step into a "hornets nest" of jealous, angry Jewish citizens. The Jews rounded up bad people from the marketplace and then formed a mob that started a riot. Paul and Silas escaped and made their way to Berea, where they found the citizens to be "of more noble character." What made them more noble? They were eager to hear about Jesus and examined the Scriptures every day to be sure that what Paul was preaching was, in fact, true. What a fantastic model for us! But the bad guys from Thessalonica weren't finished with Paul and Silas. They came to Berea to stir up the crowds there against their preaching.*
Paul was lovingly escorted by his brothers in the faith to Athens. He spent his first days soaking in the culture there, and he was distressed to see the thousands of false idols they were worshiping. When he was invited to explain his preaching to the Council on Mars Hill (Areopagus), he began by meeting his listeners where they were. He pointed out how religious they were, but then zeroed in on the altar with the inscription "TO AN UNKNOWN GOD." He explained that this was the God who had created the world and everything in it. He wants us to seek Him, to repent and believe that He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins and then rise to life again. Paul warns the Athenians that they can no longer pretend that they are ignorant, but that they will be judged if they do not repent and believe in the one true God. What an amazing sermon! - Jan Heimann
bad guys: people who wish others harm
stir up: cause trouble
hornets nest: a situation fraught with difficulties, dangers or complications
noble: of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence
* This is a very interesting sentence that uses similar pronouns referring to other ideas in the text: They (the bad guys) came to Berea to stir up the crowds there (in Berea) against their (Paul et. al. preaching.
escorted: accompanied by another for protection, guidance or courtesy
zeroed in: aim directly at; to concentrate on
May 2: Join us once again as we continue to read.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 201.
What could be more fun than growing plants? Growing plants to eat! If you aren't very patient (like me), sprouting is a great way to get some fresh vegetables in your diet and have some science fun. You can sprout very cheaply. All you need are some seeds, a clean jar or other container, a cover (a paper towel or coffee filter and rubber band works, or you can get fancy with some cheese cloth or even a piece of screen) and some water. You can begin with your favorite beans and seeds. Soak the seed overnight (or for the required hours) and then drain them. Rinse them twice a day and within a few days you will have delicious little plants to dine on. Add your sprouts to salads, sandwiches, stir fries, smoothies, or just snack on them as they are.
Some seeds (like chia) may need to be sprouted by scattering them on a damp absorbent surface (a paper towel works well, some articles recommend a terracotta plate soaked in water or maybe you want to invest in a chia pet!). Keep these seeds moist by misting them daily or you can keep them in a plastic container (like the Rosemary sea salt French bread boxes from the Fresh Market!)
Set Living and Raw Foods has a no fuss explanation of Sprouting
The Sprout People has a good site for sprouting basics also. They also have seeds and supplies. You can start up using
One important aspect of sprouting is to be sure to keep your jars, etc. clean. The moist environment can become a breeding ground for bacteria (e.g. salmonella, E. coli, listeria) when purchasing sprouts it is a good idea to cook them. When growing them at home, be sure to start with a clean container.
There are many health benefits from eating sprouted seeds: they are more digest
absorbent: soaks up water
no fuss: not a problem, easy
sprout and sprouting: starting to grow
start up: begin a project or business
May 2: Let's make tiny, delicious looking fake foods out of polymer clay. Jacqui will show us how to do it. You can see photo samples and browse on Facebook and Etsy.
fake: not real
browse: look around on line it means clicking and looking
Jacqui: woman's name pronounced ja' kee often short for Jacqueline (ja' qua lin)
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 201-202
It was great to get back to this class. What an interesting bunch you all are! I am sorry to miss next week because of my daughter's gown fitting. In talking about health and nutrition we somehow got on the topic of blood types and further we talked about how some blood types are rare (but that can vary by country). We watched a pep talk from the Kid President that was chock full of idioms and quoted Robert Frost's poem The Road Less Traveled.
May 3: Bring your Current in Carmel, Fishers, Westfield and let's take a look at what the local news is for the week.
bunch: group, casual for people who informally or formally meet together on a regular basis
you all: casual for you, a Southern term (if you are really far South in the United States you may say "all you all" when you refer to more than one person)
because of: reason for
gown: formal dress
fitting: to have an article of clothing lengthened/shortened, tightened/loosened to be sewn to exactly suit a person
pep talk: words of encouragement
chock full: packed
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs Classrooms
There were so many interesting conversations this week. I love visiting the classes and hearing what is happening. Level 1 had many people wearing purple! What was that all about? Did you plan it? I didn't get the memo! I heard that someone had a peeping Tom in their neighborhood. And then there was the question about Prom. If you do some fine dining on the weekend, you will likely see a large group of high school teens dressed in sparkly finery. Prom is the formal dance for upper classmen. While this could be an expensive proposition, it is also an opportunity for creative dressing. Resale shops are full of beautiful options. Girls will trade with friends attending other area high schools. Invitations to prom can be elaborate and include signs and other displays. The young man often plans the invitation well in advance, sophomoric creativity counts high. Dylan and Maddie had friends document for YouTube. Yes! Happy Dance!
I didn't get the memo: I didn't know I was supposed to do something
peeping Tom: someone that looks in windows
upper classmen: students in the last two years of school
expensive proposition: an idea that could cost a lot but is still in idea form
sophomoric creativity: foolish or immature
