Where fiber meets mud

A new day

2010-09-14T10:26:00.002-04:00

Hello Tuesday!

I see you have a basket of surprises and treats for me today!

I am thankful and appreciate the opportunity to share.

I am centered and focused and can walk through the day with joy in my heart to share with others who may need the smiles.

I will walk gently and listen carefully to all that you have to say.

With a heart full of gratitude,

Healing Touch Practioner, Apprentice

Change the texture of the fiber and the mud...

2010-09-02T12:52:00.004-04:00

It has become clear to me that change is afoot.

I do not actively seek change but have learned that I need to accept it rather than fight it - OK so that lesson is only hours old... no more contemptous remarks about change - more like - come along and be my friend!

I have redirected my fiber fetish recently. I still knit some, finishing a long shadowed cross stitch and some sewing. Recently the fiber that I have held is the fiber of a book, the binding, the pages, the words. Reading with a savage thirst for knowledge...

So to close this transition note I offer these words:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next. Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr

Oh Holy Cow!

2010-02-05T09:42:00.002-05:00

So where have I been since I last posted? Good question...

In 2009 I

Taught a Communion Course and had my heart openned again to the Word LOVE
Took Healing Touch Classes Levels 1, 2 and 3 - they changed my life because they showed me my real calling in life
Had lunch and breakfast with lots of friends... some moved to the Carolinas and have left a hole in my life
Got news that I will be a new Grandmother again in 2010
Furthered my education into Healing Prayer and how it has been a mainstay all my adult life
Met new teachers
Saw my sisters 3 times in 2009 which is higher than in several years past
Taught Sunday School every Sunday
Worked with Veterans and helped families as they showed need
Had my annual Mammogram - did you?
Took Volunteer training for Hospice of Cincinnati
Saw several good plays at NKU
Saw Garrison Kellior at Riverbend
Have been house sitting cats for a friend whose mother is maturing as most of us will
Had opportunity to lead the Practice Group at Unity Church for Healing Touch and love doing the work
Brought one soldier home from Iraq and sent another to Afghanistan
Went to my BFF's daughters wedding and danced all night long
Involved in planning two large events - something I will never repeat again because it is detrimental to your health
Decided to quit my job and did quit my job
Worked a little freelance
Had my right knee operated on and have been healing it through exercise
Had a beautiful Christmas
Learned alot about myself through time spent on the Healing Table
Certainly have kept healing my focus ever since January
Spent way too much time playing Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook
Had a stellar garden where the deer stayed outside the fence
Had two turtles in my garden - I set them free but they came back
Watched my Son-in-law achieve his dream of starting his own gym
Watched my new grandchild slowly grow in the Baby Momma's womb
Decided that getting back to posting on a regular basis may be a good idea

Monday is just a word

2009-07-06T08:08:00.004-04:00

Been on this plan for a while now....

Looked at the exercise today....

Said - what the heck! Go ahead and give it a try....

100 is just a number!

But when you accomplish 100 Dumbell Rows and 100 weighted step ups...

Well you feel - hot and sweaty and exhausted but accomplished...

No matter what happens from here today I know where I started and what I accomplished before 8 am!

Monday is just a word!

Sunday visits are fun

2009-07-05T22:22:00.003-04:00

I love a surprise.

I had a planned practice session with my daughter today. Always nice to have a good client practice session with a good sense of humor thrown in there for comfort. I need to practice my Healing Touch technique and get the questions to a comfortable point and the listening peaked.

So I get people I know to lay still and I lay my hands on them and practice my gift. Works for me. I learn more each time I do this and I can see a pattern developing that I can continue along in comfort, naturally.

Back to the surprise. I got a phone call asking me to teach a friend and her friend how to knit Socks! How much fun is that going to be. I need the practice teaching (period) and what better way to teach sock knitting to teachers. This will be a fun experience. Win - win all around.

So many new doors openning and I just need to go on through them... interesting.

So there are no pictures today. Monday is suppose to be dry and sunny. This will be great for pictures... Lots of pictures... promise.

Maybe even the two turtles will be available for this photo shoot!

OK. Now all the emails I have ignored all day. A small meditation and then to bed...

Each day I learn to Let Go and Let God...

Sweet Dreams to you all.

JULY 4 OR WHERE DID THE TIME GO?

2009-07-04T23:17:00.005-04:00

I know that time goes by in 24 hour intervals. I just stop sometimes and gasp at how fast they fly by and at times how painfully slow the minutes trudge along.

This has been a very good half summer.

I have read each day which was my resolution in January!

I have the garden as full as I want it. Room to walk between the plants and sit down if I so choose. The tomatoe plants are doing well but they would like night time temps about 70 degrees or more I am sure. The pepper plants are doing OK and the cucumber plant has been the star pupil already giving us two long cukes! I also have two turtles which surprised me a lot! Because I thought I only had one!

Today I planted in the garden three pots of starter basil plants, one Italian, One Thai, and one Kapro. Two will be for food and the third will be for tea. I have two jars of tea herbs almost full already! I have used the chipped wood from our yard for mulch in the herb section and it makes it look so quaint. It is just hiding clay mud but that is OK. The plants may disagree! Oh well! I used the grass that Fele pulled as mulch in another spot and have a few other mulch experiments going.

Still need to plant the fig tree!

Because this has been a coolish summer for the most part, we have been able to keep the windows open and the AC off. This is a help. Besides I do not feel like a prisoner in my own house with the windows open!

I have seem some amazing growth in my children over the last 6 months. The kind that makes your heart swell. I have seen some moments when slow and steady have paid off enormously. There is still some pain in their lives but for the most part they have made peace with it and accept it as part of the day.

I had a conversation with some new people last week and it was most refreshing. They actually paid attention to me and our conversation instead of ducking out to chat on a cell phone. It actually amazes me that I became accustomed to such rude behavior.

How open are my eyes now.

OK, One daughter requested photos of the garden. The rain stalled that process. Tomorrow.

I am going to practice my gift tomorrow. My intent will be to be focused on love. Unconditional love.

Sunday beckons.

One more circle of knitting and I will be on to the pattern of the sock!

Photos indeed!

Keeping a good thought that my friend who is visiting with her husband that returned from Iraq on Saturday is doing well! Got to be hard. Like a first date and honeymoon all at the same time. Peace to them I send.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2009-06-19T13:09:00.001-04:00

1. Eye exam - uneventful.
2. Seeds and plants - in soil and doing well. The garden even got a much needed weeding. Most seeds have shown up in the right place even though we have had lots of rain.
3. Cats are doing fine. Friend is doing OK too.
4. Socks need a few more rows.
5. Other socks are going to be late.
6. Read for Women's group. More to read.
7. Read for Healing Touch class. More to finish. Class this weekend and I am so ready to move on that I almost explode sometimes with enthusiasm...
8. Back on the diet and the exercise plan. Need to really focus on a way to make it more a life style and less like a "plan" that has a beginning and an end timeframe. I am sure the doctor on Monday will have words about that - seeing as my blood sugar levels over the last 3 months of chaos were terrible!
9. Packages mailed.
10. Cleaned a few more corners.
11. Looking forward and planning my next steps carefully.

TO DO

2009-05-29T23:45:00.002-04:00

1 - Cat care this summer - remember to mark the calendar
2 - eye appointment - hope it is uneventful
3 - plant the plants in the garden and the seeds and the flowers
4 - collect all the stick and twigs for the chipper that now works
5 - relax in the pool
6 - read for Women's Group
7 - read for Healing Touch
8 - finish current socks
9 - start new set of socks for someone else
10 - wash the car

That is enough of a list for me - maybe when I get more than half done I will revisit the list and add more - right now this is fine with me.

I have this list going now because I cannot get on FB. First the computer demanded that it be scanned which took long enough that I could do a complete chakra connection on myself. Now the phishing filter is scanning for phish!

I need to go to bed because I am tired and I cannot get a good eye exam when I am tired.

Did I mention a crown fell off my tooth today? Went to bite into a brownie and there it was... So I will fit that into the list behind eyes and before clean the car... should work just fine!

have a great night!

mud makes me happy and other misc thoughts

2009-05-26T23:05:00.003-04:00

I wonder why digging in dirt and planting things in that dirt make me so happy.

I am most content when either planting or grooming or just being in the garden. It is a very hallowed place for me. Must remember to bring in some soil to plant things in this winter. The fact that February is my worst month may have something to do with deprivation from mud!

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So my daughter has this great discovery posted on her FB site!

Drama Button

if that does not work it is: www.dramabutton.com

Drama Button... For all of life's unnecessary drama. This is a fun and humorous way to compliment the epic moments in life.

How many millions of times could I have used that? Mentally I have played it over and over again - usually followed by an audible sigh!

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gardening in the light of the moon and stars is the best!

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love covers hate like paper covers rock

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going to bed when you are tired shows a lot of maturity - I wonder if I will ever arrive at that point?

Miscellaneous thoughts are rather random

2009-05-12T21:45:00.003-04:00

I have reconnected with three friends over the last 60 days that I have not seen or visited with in three years.
The young call this "reconnecting" networking! I call this joy.
These friends and I shared like we talked yesterday. Very good and very odd.
One friend is moving to NC because her husband took a job there. Good travels my friend.
An evening in the garden fixes just about everything.
Digging clay is hard work but turning a new leaf is no easier.
Validation is important. I am calm when explaining myself and my dreams, which is new for me as they have always been a bit oblique in the past. Now my dreams and paths are clear and open and can easily be articulated.
Intense must be a mandate for me - I always seem to find intense situations into which to jump
New horizons await my next steps and I feel like the horizon line is very close
I discovered just how twisted some situations really are today and the whole thing left me with a rather sick stomach
I have two friends in the service. One in Iraq and the other in Afganistan. Soon to have a third. One comes home in the late summer. One just went over and the third reports for duty in July. Brave and noble men, all three and I pray for them without ceasing.
Someone said "no pain, no gain." they should feel my legs right now. I think I have gained the world
The toads "peeping" in spring is the most important sound of the entire natural cycle
I have a box turtle living in my garden
The compost piles are cooking
I emptied my worm bin into one of my compost piles to hasten the process
Lots to do - so to make it simple - we will make a list and pick the five most important things to accomplish and let the rest be as they will. We cannot recapture yesterday - we can only live today.
I am finished with these random thoughts and my hands want a rest from work.

Sleep well my friends, sleep well.

Rejoice and be glad for this is the day the Lord has made

2009-04-12T23:20:00.006-04:00

In comparison to the the last couple of weeks - today was a blast. I really like my house filled with people and laughter.

We all gathered to share an Easter meal.

All the children home and giggling and chatting and having a great time.

Just that fast they were all headed back in their own direction. Back to their own nest.

Funny how thin the line of transition.

One minute eight around the table and in a blink; two in recliners resting...

Life is like that - a fine line between the changes and chances of life - how fast we transition between what floats our boat. How fast we turn our gaze to the new passion in our life. How fast the changes and chances of life happen. I think that is a good thing. Un-attaching from the last entanglement may take a while - but once you steady your gaze on the new horizon I find people to be perfectly happy with their new adventures.

Changed your path lately?

Changed your gaze on the world?

Are you starting something exciting?

Are you becoming someone you like better?

Making new friends?

Finding a deepening of your love?

Wanting more peace and serenity?

There is a song from West Side Story that tells us that it is just around the corner. Time to start walking...

Love - peace - joy can be yours...

Thankfilled

2009-04-09T07:41:00.002-04:00

I am thank-filled.

Thank-filled with awe.

Thank-filled with the people who have sat with me and whispered prayers for me when I had no words.

While the human connection, not seen with the eyes, is certainly felt with the heart.

Thank-filled that my eyes are aware of these miracles, angels and saints.

LESSON LEARNED: Storms clear your vision.

It was Saturday night and I was

2009-04-04T23:27:00.001-04:00

One week ago I am sure I was online on Saturday night because I remember going to bed at 11:37pm.

I did a good job of sleeping until 3:30am when my husband jumped put of bed, stumbled to the bathroom, and banged his way back to bed - panting and struggling to breathe the whole time. He went in the bathroom to get his robe and I thought he was just going to sleep in the chair in the front room... Well the lights went on and I knew this was not just a position change - he was severely struggling for breath... tried the hot tub to see if he could relax and relieve the pain - not so much.

We got on some sweatpants and a t-shirt and shoes. I got on some jeans and a fleece and then I did one stupid thing... we got in the car... I had to decide if I wanted SR32 to the east or I-275. I chose the direct I-275 route... not a big a chance of deer and no stop signs. Doing 90 mph my husband is trying to find a space in the car where he could expand his lungs to get air. I am so scared I crank the heat and he opens the window. I was so afraid that he was going to open the door... Dumb thing to do - drive a sick person to the hospital...

Pneumonia was the diagnosis and we got admitted to the hospital – general floor. Monday was a blur. They did x-rays and ultrasounds. About 1:30pm there was a CT and about 3pm there was surgery... Thank God for doctors who know great things about the body. Obviously the pneumonia had been there for two weeks – with no cough or even a cold.

Surgery went fine. In ICU for comfort - discharged to a regular room because he was doing so well on Monday – that stopped on Tuesday and we were back in ICU. It was a little sketchy there for a few hours but overall things have been going well ever since Tuesday.

We had a few rough patches - a few moments of climbing the mountain that was harder than most - a few tears - but the miracle is that I felt all the prayers that were coming our way.

Grandchildren did not argue. My daughters were comforting. Texting was a blessing. Each word - each sigh - each thought felt warm and wrapped me in protection from doubt, fear and panic. I am most grateful for all the people who lifted their hearts and minds to the heaven above. I am not fussy which higher power you choose to pray to - our whole family felt just the fact that you chose to do that small gesture.

I called my Healing Touch Therapist to assist with the healing process. Wednesday and Thursday night, John had HT therapy and it made all the difference in his process. I was able to supplement on Friday and Saturday nights what was started on Wednesday and Thursday nights. John feels relaxed afterward and has a new appreciation for what I am studying.

Today John walked with the assist of a walker - up and down the halls - even doing a few jumping jacks and a few loops with the walker... The nurse roared. We got rid of the IV pole. No Bi-Pap. No BP cuff on continuous cycle.

He wants to sleep tonight. He was on his side trying to curl up and get comfortable. I hope he was successful because he will be a new person with 8 hours behind him. He wants his normal Sunday Sabbath - as many naps as we can fit into one day...

So it is Saturday night again... I am seeking boring and normal. I want chicken and broccoli with rice. I want Ice Tea and dogs to walk. I know that when John comes home things will be different for a while and normal and boring will take on a new feel. But I will seek normal with all my heart.

You just never know how fast your life can change when it is Saturday night and you are on the computer until 11:30 pm...

Some days you should knock the dust off your feet

2009-03-25T22:11:00.003-04:00

Some days should be washed off your feet as soon as they are done.

Today was one of them. Fiber meets Mud and they like to play in the yard. After a winter we have lots of play time because leaves fall; branches fall; sweet gum balls fall; fall falls over the place.

So Saturday, instead of exercise regime, we decided to rake all the yard litter. I have very high respect for my aging body on these adventures. I make lots of little piles all over the yard and then I slowly go around and pick them up with some form of container - maybe a garbage can - maybe a wheelbarrow.

Well, the Manly Mud was helping and as I have done in my youth - he made a few large piles - used the best rake swinging action I have seen in years - really got the sweet gum balls to loft up in the air.. That was Saturday morning. We finished shortly after lunch. By then I had pain all over my body. I wanted a hot shower and a flat bed after consuming the perfect amount of Advil to conquer the pain. A nice long soak in the hot tub helped too. Good food and 10 hours of sleep.

I also felt a little defeated because the Mister did not seem phased by the two hours of yard work - until Saturday night. Then there was a little twinge... By Sunday morning it was a HUGE twinge and more rest was the remedy - Monday rest - Tuesday rest - and then there was last night - as I am sleeping I hear these two little squeaks... "eeek eeek. I can't breathe..." well that wakes you up... So after the Mister got up and wrapped his chest with an ace bandage and took something for the pain... he crawls back in bed... so for the rest of the night I listened to make sure he was breathing... as dawn broke we had the "seek medical professional help" at the Urgent Care conversation - which he did willingly. Diagnosis: you pulled a muscle - go home and rest - if it continues see your regular doctor...

As the day progressed some relief came with "Ice Ice Baby" and more rest. The Mister rests like I do - he made some great Potatoe and Sausage Soup. It was delicious.

So as the day comes to an end I pray that the pain for Mister has gone away and that sleep comes easily. I did stress out about my Mister being in pain - after 39 years of friendship - a person worries and even panics a little... I know how fragile the human condition is and I respect it immensely. I love my Mister!

So now day is done.

Brush off the dust of the day.

Moving on to tomorrow... Thank you Jesus!

That's what I am talking about!

2009-03-17T21:19:00.003-04:00

It was a perfectly heavenly day mixed with enough play from the local leprechaun to make it worth your while being Irish...

I had an early meeting and that was enjoyable for Dress for Success. A good time was had by all! I had made a cup of coffee for the commute and the leprechaun let me forget to grab it while going out the door. I missed it just as I was merging on to I-71 North from I-471! Somehow, I forgot that it was a left hand merge adventure - but found space in the lane and managed to get over in plenty of time.

The rest of the day was funny too. Somehow, the leprechaun kept putting Peanut M&M's on my desk which flew into my mouth without a thought!

The sun was shining and the weather divine. I had a nice walk with the dog and spent an hour cleaning up the garden.

I found:
a medium sized Box turtle
Marjoram
Mint
Bergamot
Hyssop
Onions
Chives
Sage
Tarragon
Chamomile
Lemon Balm
Hollyhocks
German celery

The blueberry bushes are very bud worthy!
The grape vines look healthy!
the worm bin was active
the mulch bin was warm

and I got muddy and soil under my nails and it was a perfectly delicious experience!

So - how was your Saint Patrick’s Day? Did the leprechaun play with you?

random thoughts

2009-02-21T23:52:00.003-05:00

Because I believe it is important to grow and learn - some days I do not recognize myself as I pass through different thoughts

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Sometimes plumbing is your friend and sometimes it is just crap!

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I read through the Farmer's Almanac for March and saw the word snow as many times as I did in February. I was not amused.

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Sometimes putting yourself in "time out" is all you need to relieve the stress of a crappy week.

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I am making friends with a very untrusting Bitty cat. Even comes out for petting now. I am amazed.

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Night in Rodanthe was a good movie to watch on a cold night.

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Pilates surely mixes it up. I am sure tomorrow I am going to be sorry I mixed it up!

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I repotted the Bay Leaf Plant today. I originally dug it out of the garden one cold day last October. I guess it barerooted itself because today when I took it out of the pot, half of the soil was gone. So after I potted it and watered it, the leaves actually look green. Guess that plants like humans need to be well grounded in order to grow and thrive.

I looked at those bare roots for quite a while in amazement that from October until February the only thing that kept that plant alive was the fact that I watered it regularly. I trimmed it back because I thought it did not like living in the house - what it needed was soil. Lesson learned - if something is not thriving - look at its roots to see if it is connected to the terra firma!

The whole time I heard my daughter tell of a friend that had a huge Bay Leaf Plant. I was feeling like a failure. What I failed to do was provide dirt for its toes!

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I have my herb and garden order ready. Tomorrow I will do my small part in helping boost the economy...

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I like random.

Other things on the needles and future thoughts

2009-01-21T07:56:00.003-05:00

OK the color contrast is not as good as it could be - but the sleeve is progressing nicely. I am to the elbow which means I can knit down to the wrist without too many more decreases (see the plastic pins)

Next time I work on it for a while I will put it on a white towel before I start the photo process.

Yes the color is that rich. Like knitting with a large container of amber... oh luscious!

OK Off to meet the day...

I looked at the schedule and it may as well be Monday again because I have chosen to take some classes over the next two years and they start Saturday. I am excited about them and look forward to the process of learning Healing Touch Therapy. I think it will fall nicely into the work I do with Healing Prayer and my very obvious talent for nuturing things - socks, sweaters, plants, gardens, dust, laundry, mashed potatoes, bread, meatloaf, coffee - - you name it I can bring it along.

So have a great day... enjoy the journey... that is all I ask... enjoy the day!

Inauguration Socks and other matters

2009-01-19T23:12:00.005-05:00

Hello! I did not fall off the planet when the calendar changed numbers.

I have been working on a sweater and these socks... Rainbow Socks - ready for the festivities tomorrow.

I supported Obama for president because I heard what I think is truth. The times ahead are not going to be easy but we will be OK. As a nation we have collective ingenuity and a very strong backbone. And if there is a generation that is soft - well we will exercise them enough to make them strong - giving service to others strengthens you - gives you purpose and creates community that helps to support each other.

We have what it takes and we appreciate the truth the first time out of the shoot - not after a federal investigation of the matter.

Tomorrow history will be made and I am glad to be living during this time for this purpose.

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Off the soap box - on to frivial things... I have spent way too much time on Facebook!

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Winter will end - my sister promised me!

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breathe in and out in rotation - it is good for the heart!

CHARACTER

2008-12-19T07:39:00.001-05:00

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

Helen KellerAmerican Author, Activist and Lecturer1880 - 1968

After I read this all the storms of life came whistling through my head. WHHOOOOSH!

I was thankful that enough events came my way to build my character. I recently learned of others who have chosen to turn the challenge into character building events and not character breaking events.

This person chose to live close to his son. Chose to hunker down and live within his means. He watched rented videos. Walked a lot of places. Made friends with a clerk at the video store. Made a good choice in his new friend and they have grown closer over the years. They too had storms but hunkered down and did the right thing and have thrived. Others thought them insane but they were convicted of love and endurance.

Push the screen play forward a few years and he has one of the best families that I know. The family is well adjusted. The family faces life full on not ducking if challenges come their way. They too have chosen not to climb into the bucket of their despair but turn the challenge upside down and step up and grow and fly.

I am not saying that there is no cloudy day in their lives or in mine. But even on cloudy days I look to see what color is predominate in the grey sky. Sometimes it is blue grey, pink grey or white grey.

Guess we have learned the lesson of character....

Silence Inspires 2008

2008-12-17T08:13:00.000-05:00

When we set aside time each day for deep communion with the infinite, then, as surely as day follows night, the light of inspiration will illuminate our beings." ~Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith

Maybe this is what I am missing this year.

I had a few rough Christmas seasons in the last few years and had plenty of silence because I was wondering how it was that I was at the head of the table. This year I am comfortable with my position and my age.

I have had plenty of laughter and noise - but no silence.

Everyone that knows me well, knows I have to have a fair amount of silence in my life to survive and create my space.

So...

Today, I will create that space. I will silence all the noise in my head and in my environment and find the Season.

Get the action going.

Create the holiday and illuminate the way. I need to get going.

I think all the noise has frozen me in fear. Out of hear noise. Away fear.

Come LIGHT of the Season. Come JOY! Come HOPE! Come LOVE!!

Discordant Disoriented Winter Time Blues

2008-12-14T22:41:00.000-05:00

Lately, I have been in a discordant mood.

Sometimes sassy, sometimes quiet, sometimes just want to walk a mile and smile.

But not necessarily sure I was ever going to be in the right place at the right time to ever make a difference to anyone. I was suspecting that I was an amiable face in the crowd.

It seems that I get lost from time to time in my own little world. I question whether I make a difference in the tour of the globe about the sun.

Then out of the blue, I am late for church, I attend a different service, I see both old and new friends.

I hear a story that just about blind sides me and I look up to the heavens and say WOW! You made me late for this moment to occur. You wanted me here and now to wipe those tears away and hug those shoulders. Wow and all this time, I thought, I was aimlessly wandering the desert and I was actually following a star to this moment in time.

Introspective.

Not going to take so much for granted.

Going to thank my lucky stars that occasionally I get off the path and wander into new places and see old and familiar faces.

Going to continue to listen more and talk less because it seems that is how I do my best work.

Going to bend the knee in some deep prayers tonight.

I have a lot of things to discuss with the maker of the stars.

Sufficiency

2008-12-11T07:39:00.000-05:00

"We each have the choice in any setting to step back and let go of the mind-set of scarcity. Once we let go of scarcity, we discover the surprising truth of sufficiency. By sufficiency, I don't mean a quantity of anything. Sufficiency isn't two steps up from poverty or one step short of abundance. It isn't a measure of barely enough or more than enough. Sufficiency isn't an amount at all. It is an experience, a context we generate, a declaration, a knowing that there is enough, and that we are enough." ~Lynne Twist

In all this economic downturn news this is an interesting thought. I at times get a panicked feeling in the pit of my stomach. I remember the stories that my Grandparents told of the Great Depression and wonder if America today can actually work together with neighbors to survive. I surely hope that we are the same people who can share what we have and trade and swap to sustain our lives. I heard some pretty scary comments during the election process and fear that there will be more hoarding than sharing.

But then something like this comes along and reminds me that what I have each day is sufficient for my needs. God counts the hairs on my head and watches over the birds of the air. I was given an intellect and if I take the time to really think through what is ahead I can see my way each day. I have friends who are fighting wars on foreign soils. I have friends who have put the love of their lives in Hospice. Each day I find out that the steps before me were blessed before I stepped there and all is sufficient for the day.

Sufficiency is an attitude that is very positive and hopefully contagious to the people around you. I have had an abundance of thoughts lately and now I have a sufficient abundance of words to declare them. A declaration that all will be well in the world that I wander.

Go and be sufficient and spread that attitude around - be generous with your sufficiency!

Have you ever peeked at your Christmas gifts?

2008-12-09T22:13:00.004-05:00

Once upon a time I went to a wedding on Christmas eve - the officiant gave a sermon that described how the couple had peeked at the gifts under the tree of marriage before the ceremony... I thought it was a great analogy about discovery during a time of living together. He described how they went about trying things on and deciding about whether they wanted to keep the things they found. It must have worked - they are still married and enjoy a special celebration each Christmas eve.

I, on the other hand, did not peek under the tree before marriage - which made that first morning a very memorable moment. I have although taken a full look under the tree this year. I have been enjoying the gift for a week or so now. Unlike some women, appliances for Christmas are acceptable to me. I love things I can plug in and turn on! They make me happy. Especially the part where you can turn them on.

We have lived here for 7 years on Thanksgiving Day. Our washer and dryer were purchased new when we moved into the house. In that 7 years a church was built for almost 4 years; the foundation was waterproofed and extensive excavating took place; gardens have been located; grandchildren have lived here and the house creates its own peculiar forms of laundry too. So after 7 years of valiant duty and about 8000 loads of laundry, the washer gave up its ghost.

A trip to a scratch and dent sale garnered us a new high efficiency washer and dryer. It is a gem. We agreed that was our Christmas and my birthday present. That is fine. We will still have funny things under the tree. But we looked long and hard at our present and I am trying it out about 3 times a week before the big day... Yep we peeked and checked it out to make sure it fits and we are going to keep it a very long time...

Have a good night. Snuggle up. Keep the germs at bay. Wash your hands and keep you fingers out of your mouth.

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-27T07:57:00.000-05:00

“There is something about the mental act of thanksgiving that seems to carry the human mind far beyond the region of doubt into the clear atmosphere of faith and trust, where all things are possible. Even if at first you are not conscious of having received anything from God, do not worry or cease from your thanksgiving.”~H. Emilie Cady

Quote is taken from: Lessons in Truth

Maybe this is what is missing in the world. The art of giving thanks in all situations.

At this moment in time I see not much to be thankful for in Mumbai, but I am sure that those that survived are thankful and the grieving are thankful for those around who are carrying them through the process. The terrorists are probably even thankful that they made the world news.

In everything give thanks... that is our charge from the writer Paul in the gospels. It may take a moment to realize it, but in every situation there is a way to give thanks, from some perspective.

I have been on this sphere long enough to know that in every situation - happy, sad or desperate, I am able to say thank you for the opportunity to grow and become a more real person.

Today, take a moment and be thankful that life gives you every opportunity to grow and become a better person. You become more knowledgeable, more patient, more accepting, more loving, more tolerant, more hope filled, more beautiful each and every day. And each of these increases are free for the taking - taking the chance and saying thank you when you are finished using your new found skill...

Thanksgiving in all things...

Election Day, why it is important to me...

2008-11-03T22:49:00.001-05:00

It all began with a question from my children one winter day. “Why was I writing my Senator?” I told them, “I was upset about the way that they were acting in the Senate and it was my right to complain…You can’t complain if you do not vote.” I left it there and it seemed enough of an answer for the time.

So blink your eyes from the late 1980’s to 2008 and this long and drawn out election season we are having. This year it did not seem enough to complain and vote. This year the donations were not enough of a contribution as they were in the past elections. Talk is cheap with 24/7 news on the internet and cable TV.

No, in 2008, it was time for the rubber to meet the road. It was time to act.

Over the weekend I did a literature drop in several local neighborhoods. I saw some people walking the neighborhood and dropped them a pamphlet also. Sometimes sample ballots help people decide. My daughter and grand daughter did door to door canvassing. They saw the real America. They got the door shut in their faces several times and probably got an earful for good measure. I just got a polite “No thank you.”

I have been encouraging my friends, spouse and children to vote since they became of age. Most times they comply. And with the right to vote exercised – we complain. We complain mostly to each other. Occasionally we will even write a letter to an elected official telling him/her just what we thought and how we voted for or against them.

So please, no matter your candidate. VOTE. Never let your voice go unheard in this great country.

Just do it!

THINGS PEOPLE FORGET

2008-10-27T23:06:00.003-04:00

"Please" and "Thank You" are the two most important words in the communication process.
"Excuse me" and "Pardon me" are next.
Keep your promises. Do what you say you are going to do. Make it important to be a person of your word.
Rude is an example of your ignorance and lack of respect for the other person.
Apologizing is essential to survival. Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes. Just own them and learn and get on with life.
Smoking is dumb, expensive and stinky. It affects everyone.
Courteous behavior goes a long way.
Appreciate what you have. One day you may find out that you have more than you ever imagined and wasted time complaining that it was not enough.
Sing whenever possible. It can get you through the hardest of times.
Stop the complaining. You may miss the most important minute of your day because you were grousing about the last ten minutes being not what you wanted them to be.
Keep your things picked up and orderly. Live simply. Less is more.
Never mind about what others have. They are not you and you are not they. You were made to be the individual that you are. One of a kind. Stay true to yourself. Always.

DID NOT FALL OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH!

2008-10-03T09:29:00.002-04:00

DEAR ADORING PUBLIC!

I want to thank all of you for your patience with me over the last month. I have never worked so hard for so long with so few hands in my life.

I appreciate all the support that the DH has given me unconditionally. He has walked the dog twice a day, cooked meals that I have missed, created recipes that we can eat, done laundry and been a peaceful presence in my everyday life.

DH YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND!

This weekend I am going on retreat to hopefully clear the head.

The animals have not forgiven me for being away 24/7.

They are glued to my lap and side.

My new trick is knitting two socks at the same time - pictures soon.

My garden needs to be dug up and put away for the winter.

I am happy to be back among the living and have no desire ever to do another LARGE event for 1300 high maintenace people again.

I do have one funny aside. A friend uses silver colored plastic pieces all the time. I showed these to the ladies who were "planning the luncheon" and you would have thought I invented air. OY!UNREAL!

OK back to reality. Dyson the floors - cook - do laundry and switch the clothes for the warmer variety!

Love you all for your patience and keep the soldier in your prayers...

He left today for deployment.

PLAYING LOOSE AND FREE

2008-09-08T22:43:00.003-04:00

Admit it - we all do it - cheat around the edges of things. As HOUSE says in his TV show "We all lie."

The recipe calls for 2 T and we add heaping T's.

The label says add 60# of air - we go 62#.

The directions say assemble with these tools - we make do with a table knife.

OK - you get the picture.

We (the Mister and I) are on an eating plan. We count calories. He gets 500 per meal and I get 400 per meal. I never leave food on my plate - ever - I lick the last grains of rice off the plate. It is hard to do these meals - we are accustomed to having gravy and sauces on our meats. BUT when you add them now - they count toward the bottom line - that is living loose and free with the calories.

Over the weekend we grilled our sandwiches that had yogurt cheese - turkey - tomato and mustard. We were living high off the hog and all within the numbers with enough left to have a cup of soup!

I would rather be dieting now then recovering from a coronary in a few years. We will stick with it - keep exercising - keep eating right - we want to vacation a lot more times with the grandchildren - we like these vacations a lot...

OK my calories and my sleep are important - you loose weight if you rest enough - and hold on to the weight if you do not - has to do with stress... stess holds weight - relaxation releases weight... night now - check you another day when we can play loose and free with planting stories... gardens to move around this fall... HURRAY - they have been there two years and have grown well - time to move things around the yard!

a few thoughts...

2008-08-31T08:07:00.003-04:00

Labor Day weekend - how did it arrive so soon?

I am grateful for the vacation to Maine. Surely still colors many days of the week.

I am glad to be part of the fading Middle Class. Long may she revive.

Change - a good thing.

I have plans for a new design of the garden in 2009 and it is not even finished for 2008

If you harvest a 5 gallon bucket of tomatoes and 3 gallons of herbs - you are going to be busy for a long time. And you should consider yourself the most lucky person in the world.

I am glad I am not part of the Rich and Famous - Seen and Be Seen - world. I like my privacy and solitude much too much.

Wading pools are fun. Hummingbirds overhead while you swim...PRICELESS!

I would rather be doing a Cardio Routine and getting healthy than recovering from a heart attack....

I am not impressed with Governor Palin from Alaska. The entire state has less people than the city of Chicago. Hello? What are you thinking?

I was very impressed with how everyone behaved at the DNC. Dignity from the top down.

Life beckons. Church, friends, activity.

Tag you are it!

2008-08-10T19:42:00.005-04:00

I have never been invited to meme before so here goes a new adventure for me. Janet at Big Sky Knitting tagged me for this game.

Here is what I am supposed to do:
1. Put the logo on your blog:
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs

1. Eat at Joes: I like this blog because he offers a different way of looking at things while being entertaining. Joe is a guy living in Durham, North Carolina. Eat at Joe's! is Joe's food blog. Joe knows nothing about food, except what he has picked up from cooking, eating, and reading. He's pretty much the same way about writing and blogging: he is neither a professional chef, nor writer, nor blogger. He's just a big old geek.

2. Yarn Spinner. This woman in KY gives perspective into spinning which I have no patience for and her DH is a professor and I love to follow the antics of the pets, husband and adventures in the southern part of KY.

3. The Sailing Knitter. Who would not love to sell it all and live on a boat? I find myself living vicariously through her adventures. Plus she is always knitting socks! She finds great yarns and has great pictures of a part of the world I will never see.

4. A Little Life. Fun to read. Stretches my vocabulary. Interesting subject matter.

5. Possum Creek Herb Farm Blog. She encourages my addiction to herbs. That in itself is enough of a reason to read the blog and research what plant I am missing in my collection. It is my favorite spot to read in February when I have had enough of winter.

6. Out Little Acre. Gardens and comments are priceless. Northeast Ohio is near and dear to my heart. I grew up on the shore of Lake Erie.

7. on the hill. Flowers, Travel, socks, food, geography and variety - What more can a person ask? A blog that allows for a fair amount of travel dreaming while being able to crawl into your own bed at night! She lives on a hillside in the Yorkshire Dales. Across the big pond.

STEP 4: Add links to those blogs on yours DONE!

STEP 5: Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

Now if anyone wonders why I have a hard time doing things on time these are 7 good reasons...

On another note we have a hungry hummingbird who I call Brownie. Probably looks like this link. I got a franchise diner for the Mean Green Hummer because there was a fair amount of collisions. So now I wait to see if they use the second feeder too!

I could bore you with words about Maine and the vacation that was A-MAINE-ZING but I will not do that... Next time I post I will bore you a little.

The garden is doing well. I have a few chokeberries and a few wonderberries - but the rest of the plants that were suppose to be that variety look an awful lot like tomato plants. The Zuchinni lived its life and is now on the heap in the woods. My second setting of beans are about 6 inches high. The lettuce and spinach will get planted this week for fall enjoyment!

Tonight for dinner we had Turkey, tomato, avacado sandwiches. Garden additions make every meal a great treat.

Back to the socks that Cat Bohrdi calls Spiral Coriolis Sock. This person had a much better success at it than I am having - but I am sure that my second sock will look 100% better than my first because I understand the procedures now... Socks are forgiving - you cover them with shoes and pants ... have a good day - be kind one to another!

Change

2008-07-23T23:13:00.003-04:00

Tonight I want to talk about change.

Not the kind you find in your pockets, but rather the kind that over takes you.

I have been in such situations before.

I have fought the change.

Let me tell you how hazardous that is for the body and the soul. It makes you sick and tired.

Let me share with you the wisdom gathered on the journey...

If there is a humongous change before you - let it fill every pore of your body. Let it completely wash over you. Harvest the energy of the change and in doing that take control of the ride. You can be victim of change or victor of change. You can hanker down and say "Stop" or you can ride the wave and gather speed and come out on top.

In these times change itself comes with baggage. Steal it. Make it your own and then you can rule the world that is being laid out before you.

Take no prisoners. Take nothing but your God given skills and float away. By riding the wave of change you can gather energy and not waste any fighting what is happening to your world. In the end you will be in a better place.

When all is said and done - take a moment to look at the difference between the two worlds. If you used all your talents - you will like all you see. If you were angry and got stubborn - the surroundings will make you wither and miserable.

Fly with the change and rejoice in your resilience.

OK. Now I said my piece - go to bed! Yeah that means me too! Right after I wrap the zuchinni bread!

VaCaTiOn In A bOx

2008-07-21T07:08:00.003-04:00

Ever since we had a deck and sun and time, we have had a wading pool.

This one was on sale for half of what I have spent on wading pools in the past.

It now claims about a third of the deck surface.

It is glorious.

Filter and everything.

Now that will make the next 5 weeks of the hot summer bearable.

We were feeling like we were captive in our own house. With a pool - we now just feel sunburned.

Oh the garden is doing well also

Beans

Zuchinni

Swiss Chard

Herbs

and soon

Tomatos and Peppers!

Sit quietly and listen to the wonder about you...

Nothing but garden

2008-07-15T23:41:00.001-04:00

BEANS

MOLES

BEANS

AND WEEDS

NOTHING BUT GARDENS

BUT WE DID ENJOY THE HOME GROWN GREEN BEANS TONIGHT

AND I FINISHED THE EUROBAG LAST NIGHT

TOO TEDIOUS TO MASS PRODUCE

BACK TO THE SOCKS - EASY MINDLESS SOCKS

AUGUST 12 I GO BACK TO THE CABLE KNIT SWEATER FOR THE STUDENT

Time to tell the brain - time for sleep...

SELF DISCIPLINE

2008-07-10T23:47:00.003-04:00

All my life I have struggled with self discipline.

I find it easy to do things for others.

I find it hard to do good things for myself.

You know what kind of things - moderation things - things that require you to have a good strong talk with yourself and do things like - eat right - exercise - sleep enough - keep your language on the proper level - be kind - be consistent - be positive.... you know the fruits of the spirit kinds of things. Things that do not harm yourself. Things that make you a better person.

I have struggled with self discipline ever since I realized what it was at age seven.

Breaking bad habits is hard. I suffered from gluttony at one point in my life. I also remember thinking that life would be better if you did not need sleep at all (as I was coming out of the grocery store at 1 am).

I have struggled with moderation over the last 5 years. I have learned that sugar is not my friend. I have had to part ways with many things that I loved no longer can I eat cheese. I have learned that some of my habits were not healthy for me. I have struggled and most days I succeed.

I just realized that I must be getting some control on things - I understand when I need to eat and do it with moderation almost 90% of the time - I am very aware that exercise is important and my body craves it almost as much as Jackson craves his walks.

I still have a ways to go on other areas - there are projects that are unfinished - and I sometimes bite off more than I can chew - but I have been very aware of what it means to be self disciplined lately and feel that I am making some head way on the project - - - afterall.

Better be - I have been working on the project for 50 years.

But I have also learned to forgive myself. Which is another side of self discipline.

Now it is late. Good Night.

Today I have a a thought

2008-07-08T23:36:00.002-04:00

These people need prayers:

Bob

Ray's family

Lindsay

Alex

A woman friend going through divorce

You are good at prayers I know you are - and if no words come - just lift the name to the heavens and God will know what to do - just be the elevator.

Keep a good thought - it has been a most unusual day.

See you tomorrow....

Today we have herbs

2008-07-07T23:04:00.004-04:00

These herbs mixed with some Olivio were basted on the chicken breasts and it made a great dinner!

I thought I lost my filled Kroger card - but it was in a safe place - I found it there.

I may have sent the brain on vacation a little early - got lost going to church... need to focus a little more this next two weeks. Maybe not!

Today we have Sabbath

2008-07-06T22:13:00.002-04:00

My question to you is this: Why when you take time to rest are you so tired? When I stop I can barely function - in that I cannot even stay awake to read or knit. I must be pretty tired to have rested two full days and still be tired enough to go to bed!

I did sneak into the garden after I walked the dog. The tomato bushes, cukes, melons and zuchinni needed to be strung up some what. I needed to lay paper under the green bean bushes. Weeding is eternally needed. I trimmed back the lavendar bushes to small circular shapes and cut some blossoms. I water boarded a mole hole but tomorrow morning I will gather all the hoses together and get the rest of the contingent living near the west wall of the garden... where they think they want to eat my lavender plants and the zuchinni - - what they do not want to have to do is to eplain to my eldest daughter who loves zuchinni that they ate the plants....

In the next few days I will be starting some sections again - second plantings are fun. I haven't done this for a long time (since Wheaton where I canned a lot of stuff) but it will be good - the growing season lasts until October - so I have plenty of time for more beans - beets - lettuce - spinach - swiss chard - carrots and whatever else I have in the seed bag that can function in 90 days!

OK I am exhausted.

Long week - five full work days - I think in summer the work week should be 4 days long every week - give us adults time to rest and play...

Today we have gratitude

2008-07-05T23:17:00.004-04:00

Grateful for rest

Grateful for the hard work that keeps my garden safe

Grateful for my life here

Grateful for the animals I see when I walk (after Jackson saw two bunnies he no longer even flinched when he saw the birds)

Grateful for the day lilies

Grateful that I know how to knit and am willing to try new things and not be frozen into panic if the pattern does not come out 100% correct.... I can learn and I can grow.... the pattern that I am following is not like this - but you get the idea - knitted holes to carry things - bag weighs ounces and carries pounds... I have been intrigued with these since I saw them in Germany when we were living there in 1976 - 1979.

Grateful for companionship

Grateful that I know how to entertain myself with all my hobbies (even laundry)

Grateful that my DH is not a high maintenance person

Grateful for thank you notes from friends

Grateful that I can let the inner sloth rule me one day of the week

Grateful that this was a four day weekend

Glad I did not have to travel to hear fireworks - they were all around us

Glad that my God is huge and all inclusive and accepting of me

Glad that tomorrow is another day of rest - although that rest may be more like play!

My suggestion: Find something to be grateful about - do it - watch it - and enjoy it...

Tonight - we see birds...

2008-07-04T23:32:00.004-04:00

After the routine (yes we do the routine every night)

We were going to have a short walk between the rain drops

Then I saw a huge red shoulder hawk fly over head and I was done for. I love birds. I love to see them fly and I love the sounds they make. I open the window in the dead of winter to listen to the cardinals in the morning because it is that important to me.

Out street is about a half mile loop, but if you go down the private lane to where the creek is located you get in a full mile and a good cardio because of the steep climb up.

So on we went and checked the creek that was really flowing.

As we started back up the drive I saw this flying away.

UNREAL, I see them periodically when I cross the Little Miami River, but never this close to hear the sound of the wings flapping.

That was a good thing to see on an other wise rainy day.

Knitting socks, and a Eurobag just because I can.

Tomorrow is Saturday! WOO HOO! Love long weekends!

Tonight we got Dog!

2008-07-03T23:32:00.004-04:00

OK!

Here is the routine and I do mean routine!

Home from work - belly rub the poochy poochy after all he is a belly rub whore!

Eat dinner - do dishes.

Change clothes and Jackson starts dancing at the very sight of me headed to the bedroom to change clotes.

Sit down to tie shoes and Jackson is so over joyed that he insists on helping.

Get leash!

Get plastic bag!

Get leash on dog!

Walk for 30 or so minutes.

After the walk Jackson likes to lounge in the yard on his long tether.

Fine and good. I staked up some plants and generally enjoyed what I saw. Here is where life gets tricky...

As a rule - Jackson can be let off his leash and usually can be trusted to go the 10 or so feet without being touched or guided. He just goes in the house. Tonight I guess the door was not open enough. He hit the door and said to himself - humph - guess I am not going in there - turned around and darted for the wide open spaces. Dammit!

So I go in the house and DH asks me "Did you let him go?" "D'oh"

I invented this trick and 99 times it works - but not tonight. So I get a leash and Jackson proceeds to take me on a cruise of the neighbors yards. The neighbors have some interesting yards!

He slips into a very thick part of the woods and I opt to walk around to the other side - where I find him on the deck - he looks at me and bolts down the stairs. Dammit!

I tour the yards - nice work guys! and while he is sniffing yard 4 or 5 I lost track - I clench his neck and get the leash on him again.

Home we wander - all the time I am telling him "you should not piss off the momma" and lecturing him on the finer points of not running away from me - it is not prudent at this juncture to piss me off...

Well, he comes in the house and I ask the DH if he thought he would have come if I crinkled a plastic bag the way he comes before his walk... we just laughed...

Jackson is not to be trusted and at that point he looks at me with big brown eyes and says "What?"

That was that - tonight we got dog!

Tonight we got holes!

2008-07-02T22:51:00.004-04:00

If you have a hole you fill it.

Think Dentist.

Think tire repair.

Think Shoe repair.

Think Tailor.

Think window.

Think garden.

I have a HUGE Sweet Gum Tree in the front yard. Half the area under the tree is hosta and pacasandra (which I may have spelled wrong) and the other half is hosta and impatience. Well they were wilted tonight and I know they need water daily. So I went to water. What did I find?

Holes.

Holes where the plants had been.

Want to see the other damage?

Definite witness that there are voles that are making the holes.

Plants were helter skelter and I had a hose.

I filled the holes. I comically refer to this process as water boarding. I understand the Geneva Convention I just prefer to take no prisoners. Early in the spring I did this process and the lawn is clear. Guess they moved under the tree. I am resisting getting the peanut treats for them that worked for my neighbor so well. But this is war. I will win.

And now the day lilies... there are others but these are my two favorites!

Sweet garden dreams to you....

We got Greens!

2008-07-01T22:57:00.003-04:00

Tonight I harvested about a bushel of mixed greens.

Curly Kale

Bak Choy

Swiss Chard

We will be eating healthy for the next few days. I imagine by the 15th there will be the favorite item "Home Grown Green Bones" (green and wax beans)

After that there will be other delights to have. I can start some fall crops soon enough and enjoy some root vegetables most of the fall and winter.

I read where some are harvesting the chamomile for tea already. My seeds just sprouted... My celery is also just sprouted. I guess I planted a little late in the season - Memorial Day is not that late - but next year I will be able to get the garden in early because the fence will be up and hopefully the soil will be much enriched... April - I am thinking April - before the 15th - that should be soon enough to plant spinach and peas!

Did I ever tell you I love to garden...

Oh and the day lilies look just like the pictures I posted last week. Some actually are fragrant!

Off to rest... more fun tomorrow...

Gardens are better than books - they turn their own pages

2008-06-24T22:14:00.003-04:00

Yesterday besides being the 30th anniversary of establishment of twins - was the equinox. I was outside in the daylight until 9:15 and came in because HOUSE was on the TV. I also figured out how to make the rain barrel drain and watered the hydrangea with the water and a few other plants in the front yard - - then I did sprinkle the impatience under the tree with the hose as they, the hostas and the tree needed water

Tonight I watered the garden with a sprinkler. I also carried around a bag of fertilizer and whereever I stopped I scooped some fertilizer in the soil. I can do this kind of thing - fertilize because for some reason I forgot about it totally last year and the plants were so listless.

I also fed the rose bushes and the day lilies... the ones I have been waiting and waiting for...

They are not blooming yet - but they are close. Here are the photos from the website - where I discovered - some are no longer available... so I had best keep these safe from the deer.

wayside king royale

wayside painted lady

welcome mat

vanilla fluff

wineberry candy

Aren't these great names - what fun.

Some of these are suppose to smell really great - but they are so full of deer scat - that the whole scent thing amy be lost this year! Can't put deer fence so close to the street now can we?

I will be focusing on the roses a little more over the next few days - I think they are feeling neglected - more so than even the year that we had the foundation dug - at least that year the heavens watered them and I did manage to feed them on schedule - there was no other plant in the yard!

Keep a good thought for tomorrow - this aging process and all the crazy tests we have to take - make you a little crazy - but we seem to take them in stride - sort of like taking the car in for a test to see the problem with the engine...

WEEKEND IN THE GARDEN - OH BOY!

2008-06-22T23:03:00.007-04:00

A REALLY BOUNTIFUL HARVEST OF LAVENDER IN A 6 INCH DIAMETER VASE....

TO THE LEFT YOU CAN SEE LEEKS GROWING VERY VERY SLOWLY AND THAT PESKY CRABGRASS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLOT

TWO PURPLE PEPPER PLANTS ON THE DECK TABLE. THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT BASIL PLANTS; 2 SCENTED GERANIUMS AND 6 ORANGE PATIO TOMATO BUSHES

THE SINGLE PLANT THAT LOOKS LIKE A TOMATO IS REALLY A GROUND CHERRY WHICH IS AN EXPERIMENT FOR THIS YEAR. There are about 6 total and several Wonderberry bushes growing too. More experiments....

SALSIFY, WHICH I HAD TO START AGAIN BECAUSE IT LOOKED SO MUCH LIKE GRASS THAT MOST OF THE FIRST BATCH GOT WEEDED OUT. THIS MAKES ME THINK ABOUT STARTING EVERY SEED I BUY IN A CUP SO I KNOW WHAT I AM GROWING.

That is what I have today. Soon there will be pictures of the day lilies that I have been waiting for two years to see. They do not bloom the first year you plant them and this year I have been spraying them with Deer Scat and putting dog hair all around them every time I empty my Dyson.

Any guess on the amount of knitting I have accomplished?

Sweet Dreams...

TIM RUSSERT 1950 - 2008

2008-06-14T00:15:00.003-04:00

Life they say is what happens between the dashes.

Tim Russert loved life. He loved the game of politics. His tributes today have been without equal.

There is a large Tim Russert size hole in my life today. The whole MSNBC news family is in shock at your sudden departure and it showed on every face we saw tonight.

I am an admitted MSNBC news-aholic.

He was my 15 seconds of fame. We graduated together from John Carroll University.

Oh Tim, How we will miss ye!

There is a man named Bob Nook who watched Meet the Press as faithfully as any one I knew.

Stop by for a chat, have a cold one, and engage him in a discussion once again. Please.

Thanks for teaching us to love our fathers, past, present and future.

I can only hope we have learned the lessons or readiness, preparation and accountability you tried to teach us. You truly spoke the truth in love, kindness and humility.

May the Lord hasten to gather you to his boutiful table. My you have a comfortable room in the mansion. May eternal rest come upon your soul.

HOW TO LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE - Part 1

2008-06-10T07:23:00.002-04:00

Today

Tomorrow

And right now the scent of petunias is the best in all the summer plants.

Always reminds me of being 5 and putting one to my face, inhaling so hard that the petals stuck to my face without holding the flower.

I thought it was a great sport.

The hummingbirds like them too!

Part Two - soon.

I am now off to make correct what I absent-mindedly did last week!

Gardens are me!

2008-06-01T23:00:00.005-04:00

Spring

Finally

Here

Too much fun playing in the mud and planting seeds that will take their own sweet time to sprout and grow into a lovely garden.

No deer problems as you will see why. Seven feet of safety and a gate for easy access.

The garden looks different even a few days later. Green beans are about 2 inches high already.

I can almost taste the "Home Grown Green Bones" as we like to call them.

A few more plants and some flowers and we will be ready to watch and see. I am trying several new things this year. Ground Cherries, Krul Celery, Salisfy and Leeks.

Be patient - there is no microwave gardening here - just good old fashion patience...

Next we will be making some string Tee Pees for the vines. I will have a helper next week and we will make all kinds of fun supports for the cucumbers, melons and squash to hang from! Rube Goldberg watch out - here we come - string and sticks - it will be like knitting...

Here is the view from the deck!

Life is not a Microwave

2008-05-24T22:57:00.002-04:00

Some things take time.

Gardens take time to grow from seed to plant. Water, sunlight and care are needed to encourage the plants to grow.

Children take 9 months to mature from seed to child. You do not push a button and get the baby all developed in a few minutes of waiting.

Traffic lights take a few minutes to change colors. Yes, you will survive with waiting patiently. No, you cannot turn left on red if noone is coming when the light is red. No, you cannot ride up the turn lane for miles to avoid waiting in the long morning traffic.

It takes a few minutes to turn left on a Saturday Afternoon.

Healing takes time. Physical healing, spiritual healing, psychological healing all take time. Things have to level out. Bonds need to be invented again and made strong through exercise and patient waiting and rest. Healing, tenderly nurtured in the beginning will stand the test of time.

Love takes time to develop into a relationship. You do not go to Match.com and find the perfect person the first time - meet and marry in minutes. Love takes time. I do believe in love at first sight - but the relationship that stands the test of time and survives all the crazy curve balls that life throws - takes time and tender caring.

Cash registers take time.

Face it folks, life takes time. You have to wait for things. Just because you can go from ice cubes to boiling water in 3 minutes does not mean that every event under the sun can be performed at such a speed.

As a society we have become to expect everything will happen at microwave speeds.

Not so much.

I suggest that the planet take a universal sigh and cleanse that thought from their brains and learn to be just a little patient with the person ahead of them in traffic, grocery store, gas station, parking lot, drug store, golf course, and even on the street when walking the dog.

It all takes time and in the beginning and in the end - that is all we have - time.

Slowly stepping off the soap box and going to sleep - it is time for that!

SO, LAST NIGHT I WAS AT CHURCH....

2008-05-15T07:04:00.006-04:00

SO...

We have been attending a series on GRACE at church on Wednesday nights. The variety of ways that grace comes to you and can make you whole. I use my grace to do healing prayers during services at church. I found this gift one day when I was a little lost for reasons to attend church. Not had a problem attending since. You go to church - you get filled and renewed - and then you get sent out to use your serving of grace (which is immeasureable, really).

At any rate...

We were given and exercise to do for about 20 minutes. Read a Scripture passage and listen to what it says to you and pray with it... So I start, read the directions for the exercise through. Read the verse. Started to follow along... reading - then reading again - then the third instructed reading - I found these words:

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,

"What do you want me to do for you?"

"Lord, I want to see," he replied. Luke 18:40-41

I cannot tell you how many times I have asked that question to people that we pray over. It was there sitting in the silence that I discovered a very sacred thing.

The healing happens when the person tells God what it is that He/She would have Him/Her do.

That one request from the broken to the divine heals the person, makes them whole.

They sit there as a child, asking the Father/Mother in response to the question:

"Dear Child of mine, what would you have me do for you today?"

And then we pray and if we stay out of the way, God hears the prayer, and the faith of a little child will help to heal them.

I have never seen physical healing on the spot. I have seen people turn over burdens and let God carry them because they are too hard to deal with alone. I have felt the heat and the warmth of the Spirit fill the room. There is an energy there that surpasses all other life experiences.

When you pray

Hear the words: What would you have me do for you?

Then tell the Lord the truth, be honest and sincere, and wait. The healing grace will arrive to make you whole...

One secret - the answers to your healing prayers are never what you expect.

They are 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

times better.

THE SIGN SAID: CALL YOUR MOTHER

2008-05-11T20:00:00.003-04:00

So I did:

Mom, I love you
Mom. I miss you
Mom, I sure could use a hug today

Mom, I love you
Mom, I miss you
Mom, We all could use your love down here today

Mom, I love you
Mom, I miss you
Mom, the world is in such a mess today
We sure could use some love down here
Please deliver some soon

Mom, I love you
Mom. I miss you
Mom, I sure could use a hug today
Mom, I tried as hard as I could to have a great life
Mom, I think you would be proud too
Mom, I am happy with my family and many remind me of you

Mom, I love you
Mom. I miss you
Mom, I sure could use a hug today

So this is the song I sang as I rode down the road. The lyrics continued as I beseeched her to help us fix the world we live in because I feel we have made such a big big mess... I asked her to visit some of the hurting places and heal their wounds from her chair in the heavens...

I did call on my Mom. It made me feel better just to sing her this crazy made up song and say the word again like I was calling her once more.

I HOPE YOU CALLED YOUR MOM ~ I SURELY WOULD HAVE IF I COULD HAVE

WHAT TAKES UP YOUR TIME?

2008-05-02T23:59:00.006-04:00

Since my last post which I think was about 12 days ago - it could have been a lifetime. Lot of life has passed over the road. I took apart the garden to one big flat square of soil. Many things moved to new homes and deer fence is going up soon.

My husband had some "procedures' done to assure his health. Come back in 5 years - so all of us over 50 know what he had done. He also heard my favorite Bingo call "B-9"

We have seen another great concert by Tom Rush who gave us the "Remember Song" and a great night of music. Tonight we heard Steve Chapin and John Wallace who played all the great songs of the Chapin band. Yes, even Taxi! They even sang one of our old favorites: Two Sleepy People ...

Then there is the basement project!

There was a day spent (could have been 1.5 hour activity, but you know how long home repairs really take) in the basement fixing the sagging upstairs floor. The pictures say everything. This project did not turn out exactly like we had researched, The floor did not budge, but obviously the double 2x4 did bend. And the pipe that we used beat the sawsall. It was not a great day for tools.

So we have this project on the further research list and it will get done eventually.

The washer got new dogs. The dog got another bath. The lawn got cut and the gardens are definitely taking great shape. The DH has been very busy. We have finished out turns as helpers at Sunday School and we are taking a Wednesday night class on Grace, Prayer and the Risen Lord! We are helping relocate hobby supplies from a life time collection of crafting.

There have been many once in a lifetime moments and I have loved them all.

Somewhere running around my head is a story about Mint Faith. Not ready for prime time.

There has been plenty of time spent watching the pundits. I am ready for the mud slinging to be finished now.

I have had some good very good conversations about what the heck is going on with my life. I think I have been in such a continuum of change that my life was spent riding the waves and surfing along. No big deal I have won the surfing contest for my age bracket. What you say? There was no contest? Sit down - it is my game and I made the rules and I won.

It is the beginning anticipating season of gardens. The seeds are under the grow light and it is getting more exciting every day.

Little knitting, some months are like that, yeah they are!

Do yourself a favor.

Live your life with all the colors in your crayon box.

Staying inside the lines is optional.

At the end of the day - give yourself an A+.

Hang the picture on the wall and tell yourself - good job - well done - bring on another day - I will be ready in 8 hours!

Digging in day - a WOO HOO day!

2008-04-19T20:16:00.003-04:00

Today it was suppose to rain - but who ever believes the weather people. Noone predicted this either!

While driving to the cat sitting location - I needed sunglasses and thought to myself - this is some odd kind of rain!

So I started the day with a cardio workout because I decided that the medication (that the doctor and I do not agree upon) was making me way to lazy and I did not take it last night - guess what - I could actually do almost 30 minutes of cardio - quick shower - swallowed my cereal and medicine and off to get the nails done - Who Do VooDoo - is a great shade for me.

Now this presents a problem - you sure do not want to do yard work with a fresh manicure - so we went to the bookstore - where I needed the sunglasses for the travel once again.

Peanut Butter and Jelly - all time favorite lunch - and I cleaned the hot tub and refilled it. All of a sudden I heard the Rototiller - - - woo hoo! And I checked the mail - woo hoo! Seeds all kinds of seeds!

So sport fans - it is gardening season for sure... now to be patient enough for the soil to warm and the earth to be properly worked and relocated and mixed with amendments - I promise to try and be patient as I can be. But it does not count if you grow things under the lights in the basement now does it?

I am suppose to be doing laundry and folding clothes - sigh - maybe just one load and then to knit - I am almost to the sleeve island border - - - woo hoo again!

It surely is a woo hoo day!

March socks of Araucania hand dyed yarn

2008-03-31T22:30:00.003-04:00

I started with on skein of Araucania hand dyed yarn - I would tell you the color but the dog chewed the label - I used Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters Book One pattern Veil of Leaves which produced these lovely textured socks:

I learned Cobblestone Cuff; Star toe and have almost mastered Judy’s Magic Cast-on.

The picture does not do the lace pattern justice but if you thought, I was going to ask anyone to model them – you are crazy – I loose socks that way!

My April socks may be short ones as time in the garden will be more important than anything.

Time to get the beauty rest Queen City Chess Tournament comes soon enough.

Just a little progress

2008-03-16T22:36:00.004-04:00

There are strange acronyms in the knitting world!

TINKING is kniting backwards (repairing mistakes)

UFO's which are unfinished objects

WIP's which are works in progress

Now there is a fine line between UFO's and WIP's. I prefer to call items in that status ON HIATUS...

So there is this FLAK2 that I have been talking about bringing out of Hiatus. I did and the third start is the charm for sure.

I made a few changes to the pattern and I stayed with the changes so not they are part of the pattern and you may never even notice them. I remember how the cables flow - the timing of the twists and I remember how much like a river knitting cables really is - to me at least.

I love it - water is my favorite thing to be around - to play in - to swim in - to drink - just love water... and so my FLAK 2 is taking shape.

Here is the front section half way to completion before I begin the sleeve gussets...

Now I that I am about to start on skein three of the sweater I find myself counting the hours until I have an hour to work on the sweater... It really is compulsive at times...

The weekend is over... I am tired... I did some mandatory housework - laundry - vacuumed the front room - cleaned the bathtub - fed the birds and that was pretty much it... guess I had best get some other things done as there will be company coming for Easter!

SIGH less sweater time!

Houston, we have a problem!

2008-03-15T14:24:00.003-04:00

It has been a week!

I went to the doctor for the inevitable weight and BP check. Good on the weight and bad on the BP - so there is a medicine roulette we will play for a while... no big deal just a season of life I am sure.

About two weeks ago as I was knitting I smelled what I could only describe as something burning. We did not discover anything smoldering so we let it go. The next day I went to do my daily ablutions and the light and vent fan did not work. I shrugged and proceeded with the day. I mentioned to the mister who said "OK, I will look at it."

Well the days went by and I would ask, "Did you look?"

Well the days went by and eventually I had asked enough that he did look and start to investigate. Yesterday the process resulted in a little dry wall eruption and today the picture says the rest. It is a 30 gallon trash can filled to the brim with the most obvious of reasons that the shower vent and light did not work. Electical spagetti! We find this quite often in this 1950's bungalow, whose occupants have done cowboy wiring, open splices and the such.

So now there is no ceiling in my bathroom at all. The vent hole opens to the outside and it is very chilly in there. So the mister and I will be sharing a bathroom for a while... We will see how this works as we have not shared a bathroom since the kids left the abode about 8 year ago and we have always had seperate grooming areas... which we still do, so stayed tune sports fans it may be the most interesting adventure we have had in a while.

Tonight I will post pictures of progress on FLAK 2!

Go hug and electircan!

WHAT TO DO WHILE BEING SNOW BOUND

2008-03-08T22:45:00.001-05:00

Shovel snow
Take a shower because you are wet and hot and cold
Clean your Dyson Filter and Canister
Get dog out from under your bed where he has chewed up two giant rolls of toilet paper
Shovel snow
Take a shower because you are wet and hot and cold
Cook a roast
Knit on FLAK2 sweater
Shovel snow
Take a shower because you are wet and hot and cold
Knit
Do Laundry
Watch How-to TV and realize they are working in shirt sleeves and you have two sweatshirts on
Watch all the Red-Winged Black birds at the feeders you just filled up because you know that they need the food.
Laundry
Dry sweaters because the heat is going to be on anyway
Send pictures of snow to children
Text message with your kids
Be reminded at 10:15pm that it is Spring forward weekend and now it is 11:15pm just that fast
I sure did enjoy my day of captivity!

DO OVERS

2008-03-07T07:02:00.002-05:00

There is a lot of talk about DO OVERS in Florida and Michigan.

I can understand but it worries me because the only time I ever want to DO OVER anything is when it is F*U*B*A*R. Now the thought that our election system is in that state really worries me.

Now why would I ponder DO OVERS? Because yesterday when I pulled out the FLAK 2 sweater I was working on I saw that I had completely run amuck on following the correct repititons of the patterns involved in the sweater. Now had this been an area under the arm, on the bottom edge, I may have fudged... but no it was front and center. So at 9pm I decided that this sweater deserved a DO OVER and I unraveled the yarn, the DH neatly balled it up for me, and alas here I am on my third attempt to Get'er done!

Rumor has it that the third time is the charm. Let us hope so!

OK then! The weather people have decided that 10 inches of snow would be a good idea. I bought two packages of chicken, Oreos, milk and some Ivory soap for dishes. Figured with that combo we could live for days...

Some emergency preparedness - I can hear my friend in Montana just shaking her head! I may need to borrow her rescue dog if we really get all those inches and it stays cold (giggle giggle giggle).

Off to the day. Have a good one - take a moment to thank the Lord for all your many blessings!

Almost gone - February

2008-02-27T23:07:00.002-05:00

I am finishing the things on my January list

maps
socks
working on sweater
diet and exercise
being of good cheer

So I am glad I had things to accomplish and for the most part I am happy with myself.

Now if I could get my socks for February to post on the SAM5 blog I would be even happier.

I checked the rice link and played the game for 800 grains of rice... fun stuff if you have not played...

Sleep beckons - Thursday and Friday and it is the weekend again - and a concert to see again this weekend - seems my #2 granddaughter is in a honors concert with some local choirs - I love concerts - how fun this will be to watch - reviews after the week ends....

February - Saturday - Get 'er Done!

2008-02-23T10:16:00.002-05:00

SATURDAY
I am tired of February.

Off to trim toe nails on Itty Bitty Cat who is quite the feline!

I am teaching Sunday School and we are making prayer beads Episocopal style and I love the whole hour I spend doing this. Prayer is my stronghold and always has been. I pray a lot during the day and church has never been my singular spot for prayer. I pray always in traffic. I pray when getting on and off the Interstate. I pray in the garden the best as I compost a lot of stuff into the soil.

Currently the soil is buried under too much ice.

Oh and there is an adventure tonight - we are off to see Larry the Cable Guy! Get 'er done!

Confession is good for the knitting!

2008-02-16T21:21:00.004-05:00

I had put Lori's sweater in Hiatus for a year. I needed a year to clear my head.

Now I know I proofed the pattern when I laid it out - I know my pattern could not have purposely skipped a whole column - but I did - so even last night when I was exhausted and after reattaching the shoulder saddles to the front for the third time - I just stopped and looked and counted and looked again - - - in all my sorrow from all the things that went on about me - - - - I simply did not add in the filler stitches on the left side of the pattern - so I was unable to get the start I needed...

So tonight on a clean sheet of paper I have laid out the neck front again and this time - with a few added stitches in the ditch between the cables - I will have even numbers on both sides and life will go cabling along - - Oh Lord of Twisted Stitches I Pray!

TomorrowI will be teaching Sunday School - the lesson is Prayer and we will be making Prayer Beads - so I will practice my prayers while I stitch - you do realize that both knitting and cross stitching are my deepest form of prayers - all my stories are placed there and woven neat - unlike the reality that we traverse each day.

Healing prayers to my daughter and my sister - they both have big ouchies!

Dear Lord - father and mother to us all - be with my daughter and my sister as they heal - give them your patience - give them the energy to mend and knit the bones and tissues back together in wholeness and health. Oh we do indeed pray.

Rest up - Monday cometh!

So, I was walking the dog

2008-02-07T07:03:00.000-05:00

The weather was actually balmy outside. There were pockets of fog that you walked through and the fog made the night not so dark, almost grey like.

I was thinking about how a year ago it was 10 below zero in Cleveland and we were staying in a hotel having just buried my Dad. I was thinking how BK died today and is in heaven now, at peace with no more pain or struggle. I was also thinking how much my daughter will miss her and I was glad that it was not 10 below zero tonight.

My next thought was how Dad would walk Charlie every night.

Then, something very strange happened. Jackson stopped and started acting like someone was there petting him, tail wagging, head up, happy to see someone. I did not see anyone in the area or on the street. It was calm and waves of fog were about me. I felt Dad’s presence and then I heard these words in my mind:

“BK is with us now. She is fun to be with. She loves music and art. She is perfect. Thanks for sending your very best to us. We will be gone for a while now travelling. We will be OK. We have museums to see, great Symphonies to hear and trails to hike. We may even teach her to like Jazz."

I heard Dad chuckle and the conversation was over.

That quick Jackson went back to walking like no one was near.

The weather started to chill, the fog lifted, and the wind started to blow.

We were home and the peace inside from those moments will be palpable for a while I am sure… I think life will be grand now. I think everything is going to be OK...

SUNDAY - FEBRUARY - NEW THINGS TO LEARN

2008-02-03T10:12:00.000-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SISTER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

My sister is on Vay-Kay and I think it is the best gift she decided to give herself.

My neice posted a great poem for meditation on her blog spot A LITTLE LIFE

I am going on another long walk with the dog and Mister today

We are trying a different service for church today - a U2charist.

My feelings on that will be reviewed after we try it out.

I can guarantee it will either keep us young or make us feel old.

I am hoping for the first.

The cause I support - just not sure about the venue - I need a certain amount of silence in my prayer - but maybe I can learn a whole new way to pray!

I am open and willing that is for certain.

OK, then, off to conquer the great day....

What really determines a pair of socks?

2008-02-01T23:50:00.000-05:00

Top sock is Classy Slip-on from Betsy Lee McCarthy. Mountain Colors Bearfoot yarn. Knit from the top down. This sock is to be finished during the CNN debate tonight and then the MSNBC Countdown program.

Bottom sock is Foxgloves from Cat Bohrdi. Knit in Yarn art. Knit from the toe up.

Now why knit two socks together at the same time - so I had a visual example of what it would look like - I am a visual learner. I also like to have a challenge. Bottom sock will be finished this weekend as I have decided to ground myself - stay home and knit!

Google does not want to load this to the blog tonight – too much democracy taking place! So this is really my February 1 posting - but I did get under the wire on SAM 5!
******************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***********************

So what kind of day did you have little girl? Well it started when the yogurt exploded in my purse. Then it leaked on the new seat covers in my car. So the cats thought I had a milk bottle for them in my purse – sorry to disappoint you. I have carried yogurt in my purse in the morning ever since yogurt became the staple that it is today during the late 1960’s and NEVER have I had one explode.

I am not trying to compete with anyone on bad days, but really, I almost went home and went back to bed. I persevered onward. I took care of the cats and went on to the job. Where my plans for the day were redirected by people who do not feel the passion I do for outreach and education of women.

Onward I went and finished a lot of to-do’s and then came home to an absolutely divine dinner. Now the debates have started. The side I am on is not necessary to express, I just love the discourse. I hope that they decide to answer the questions tonight.

Google does not want to load this to the blog tonight – probably all those people watching the above event on-line!

()*()*()*()*()*()*()*()

So how is your family doing? My middle sister is on a well deserved vacation to Florida and New Orleans. My daughter is in Hocking Hills for a little get-a-way with her husband. We are staying home and enjoying several years of Christmas presents: Chairs, hottub, yarn and books.

***********************

Friday was a bit rough too - but I decided that if I could pull a U-turn on a busy street as a habit of life I could just about conquer a crappy day. And so I did. I also wore these great socks that I finished last night

Now I have decided to finish the other pair, start again on DD#3's sweater and teach DD#2 how to knit (at her request)

That is a wrap... Sweet winter dreams

Christmas 31 days later

2008-01-26T19:06:00.000-05:00

So in the balmy 47 degrees of this fine Saturday we removed this door

And we installed this door

It is very nice to not have the stiff breeze run through the front room

I took the pictures with my new cell phone. I may have to look into getting the picture either larger or better focus or something. We will decide after we see how the blog publishes.. Who'd a thought that when I thought that Polaroid pictures were so modern - that one day I would be taking pictures with a phone...

OK on to Joe and socks = = = rumor on MSNBC is that Obama won SC and that forcast after only a mere 15 minutes after the polls close...

One more thought - there are people in my world that are hurting tonight - Some people I do not even know except I have heard their story - - maybe sit in silence with them and have the Divine shine some love down on them...

Socks, nuttin' but socks

2008-01-20T22:58:00.000-05:00

All weekend long

Socks - two patterns at a time

One to think about and one to just knit.

One to do from the toe to the top.

One to do from the top to the bottom.

I should have two pair by the end of the month.

Might be a personal best.

The 17 high degrees were a big help today that is for sure.

*************

On other matters - DH is reading a book called Rich Dad, Poor Dad - sounds interesting - what we teach our children about money....

DH also got a book about Audacious Hope... that I will read. A C.S. Lewis book - so there may be fewer socks in February - but more reading - sigh. So many things and so little time.

*************

Itty (cat) was fine today. Her mother told her I was coming to take care of them and Itty bit Mom - she was equally aloof with me. Somehow she managed to pull the food dish to the center of the rug area in the front room. I am pretty sure that was not in the rules as approved.

****************

Looks like NY Giants agains NE Patriots - might be a good game to watch... Sorry Green Bay!

**************

Monday beckons

And now we wait...

2008-01-19T13:14:00.001-05:00

I belong to a great group of internet friends who are amazingly into herbs.

We share ideas on growing them, drying them, saving them and using them.

We have people who distill them.

We have people who earn their daily bread by selling them.

There are some amazing educated herbal authorities that weigh in from time to time. I have learned about such things as Oregano Oil and Holy Basil from them.

Currently we are having a winter swap. One small tablespoon of herbal blend of your choice, some instructions, all inside a #10 envelope. I have received three so far. The condition of the herbal packet upon arrival helped me determine how to package mine.

Here they are all enveloped and addressed up! I even found a Post Office open on Saturday really near my house.

And here is the mailbox - ready and waiting!

On another note - the husband and friends are doing a project for a church group and I have had the day to myself so far - I have to feed the birds - we are suppose to get to a whole 4 degrees tomorrow... so maybe I will have socks to show you tomorrow... maybe... right now there is a map to do...

Waiting, sometimes patiently...

Good Knitting Year 2008

2008-01-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

2008 = a great knitting year

A few names are common in my house. Chris, Joe, Tim and Keith are words used daily and I have three girls and two grand daughters. These are neither their significant partners nor family members. They are not the family pets or local friends. These are talking political heads. They are full of comments about the day to day (hour to hour) of running for President 2008. They have countdowns, numbers of the day, constant banter and are great sources of little known facts about the Democratic process. The constant comment of these people keeps me quite entertained while I knit. It makes for lively discussion between the mister and I. We really enjoy the season of talking political heads.

I sincerely hope that come spring that the campaigns allow time for gardening, otherwise I am not going to he a happy camper and may have to have a radio in the garden tool bucket with me.

I remember as a child watching the scratchy black and white TV and the speeches by such people as Dwight Eisenhower, Charles DeGaul, John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. I remember marches in Selma, Alabama and on the park at the Lincoln Memorial. I remember how sad it made me to watch people be fire hosed in Selma and in Mississippi when all they wanted was the same simple life I was living. I had parents, siblings, a father that worked and a mother that stayed home. I did not realize what hate and prejudice were until many years later. The two talking head at the time were David Brinkley and Chet Huntley. I do not remember them explaining very well what that was all about in a satisfactory manner. I do remember a reverent silence after the clip.

I am addicted to watching what they say. In fact at night I get my "Chris Fix" while exercising. I am always amazed when they are on target. Of course, in the last week they all ate their fair share of humble pie as New Hampshire made history in the results. Of course, I am not going to say who my candidate is because that has not really been determined. Another reason to watch and listen.

One think I do know is that knitting and Monk Marathons are dangerous. If I am too caught up in the Monk Episode I loose count of stitches and rows and that creates TINK-ING (backwards knitting) which makes me sad! House is another TV show that I will never knit through again. House takes all your attention – all the time!

Further details in the knitting world, I have finished one sock from the Beverly McCarthy Sock Book and I only have to do one inch of trim on the Cat Bohrdi sock. I know it is two socks and they are different socks but they are a pair and it is only 13 days into the year. I call that reason to celebrate. That will put me ahead of my goal for a Sock a month goal.

I have a few more goals for January. I would like to start February with no projects left on the table. That means I need to finish 2 topographical maps of Jerusalem and 30 Dove kites. I explained this goal to my Granddaughter when were doing some recycling this weekend. It is not much, but it is a start.

Well that should be enough links to keep you interested in what happens in the off hours of the day. I have someone I read called the Curmudgeon. He is in Chicago where rain cold and snow are almost as powerful as the politics.

Rest and relax snow cometh ...

GOAl for 2008

2008-01-01T11:08:00.000-05:00

I am already two inches into my new socks (VBG)

End of the Year Celebration of Sound and Silence

2007-12-31T22:32:00.000-05:00

It was a very unusual festive season.
Each child is in its own nest.
Each child is on its own adventure.
It was a very good feeling as a parent to see your children soar, especially at the time of celebrating the Birth of Jesus. It was a special heart gift given unawares and unasked for, which are always the best gifts!

This year, when the song started, “Silent Night, Holy Night” I did not cry, I did not sigh, I sang right along with the words and kept all the blessings right there in front of me and celebrated each one with a silent blessing on that holy night. That was a most unusual event for me because I have not been able to sing that song in years without crying – so I had my own little celebration right there and right then too. Peace and silence were the gifts given and received.

This Christmas was full. Cookies to bake, cleaning to do, birds to feed, ideas to blossom and lots and lots of laughter, love and hugs, hikes and walks to take, shopping to do, sights to see, sisters to visit with and nieces too, cousins visiting, new traditions to replace the old! It was very full of fun and lots of healthy noise.

As the holiday dwindled so did the noise. The silence was welcomed and very productive in its own way. You can sort things out in silence. You can look at things, count things, and measure them in accuracy. All while knitting, reading, or sitting in a hot tub. Silence after the noise is very good indeed. This was different from a retreat silence or a Sabbath silence – this was a cleansing silence. The season of mourning is at end – life and tradition can now move forward anew.

Here are some pictures of cookies, socks and laughter…

Please note that the socks have about 36 inches of yarn left over. I did not believe the clerk at the LYS that 2 socks could be made from one skein - and so there is another skein coming in the post soon!

Yes, the Pizelles were nummy - both batches! And yes that is a very full couch of life, love and laughter

Happy New Year. Happy 2008 to all.

We had company today!

2007-12-29T23:37:00.000-05:00

Not just any company - family.
Do you know how good that sounds in my head and heart?
Do you know how happy it makes me to have a sister visit?

I have spent a lifetime not having family visit us because we did not live in the Hometown.

So now to have a sister, neice, brother in law come for a visit - I was thrilled and enjoyed every crazy minute.

My children were here too - but they are part of the sight sound and taste of home - but my sister came to visit - - it was the best day of the year!

Thanks, sister.

Hope the Mister feels better tomorrow - seems he is getting what the Son in law had on Christmas day - so much sharing going around here - - so now the house is quiet and everyone is home in their nest...

Off to bed for me - tomorrow the only chore is to finish socks... and post the picture here...

what a day

2007-12-22T01:07:00.000-05:00

OK so here is the story

DD#3 is on her way to Guatemala for a vacation to visit a friend who is doing missionary work there. Her flying interim was spent visiting with me - we chat and we text - I will miss those convos over the next two weeks...

I started my Christmas shopping today.... still not quite in the spirit but I will get there... My sisster is visiting between the holidays and I am happy about that!

I had my annual migraine first day of vacation event! How typical is that!

The dog got stuck so far under the deck that the mister had to do the low crawl under the deck to get him. Jackson is getting lattice for Christmas! We are getting a new front door and a new deck door - Santa is very good to us!

So what have I been doing with the needles...

in this book is a pair of socks called Columbine which is a favorite spring flower of mine... I have been knitting them for DD#1. I have the first sock finished and was almost to the heel of sock two when House came on the TV.

Well I should have put he sock in the bag! I tried to knit while watching but that did not work. I ended up ripping out all but two inches of the sock! I am ready to watch boring TV and finish this sock... not while watching House which comes on at 11 pm! I love that show because he is a brilliant smart ass and he gets away with it... if life were more like this I would have a fine time!

OK Tomorrow is alraedy here...

I am ready for some sleep and I love the feeling of vacation now that the necessary miagraine headache has passed... bring on the fun!

WINTER THOUGHT

2007-12-16T08:08:00.000-05:00

Flannel sheets and Flannel Pajamas is like sleeping in velcro.

Brings back memories of felt boards.

Just a memory and thought for today when the winds are blowing and the snow is scattered.

Anatomy of a tear

2007-12-13T23:19:00.000-05:00

Tears
Tears form a thin layer that covers the cornea and conjunctival epithelium (skin). The functions of this ultrathin layer are:
1. To wet and protect the delicate surface of the epithelium.
2. To inhibit infection by mechanical flushing with each blink and the action of chemical components within the tear film.
3. To provide the cornea with necessary nutrients.
4. To make the cornea a smooth surface for light to pass undistorted into the eye.

The tear film is composed of three layers.
a. A superficial oily layer derived from the Meibomian glands situated along the eyelid margins.
b. The middle aqueous (water) layer supplied by the main lacrimal gland and minor lacrimal glands (Krause and Wolfring located in the conjunctiva superiorly).
c. A deep mucous layer derived from Goblet cells scattered throughout the conjunctiva.
The oily layer helps prevent rapid evaporation of the tears, and the mucous layer helps the tear film to adhere to the surface of the eye.
Changes to the tear film components, and or the surface of the eye cause instability resulting in what is called dry eye syndrome.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

OK so there you have the real explanation - let me tell you the reality: My eyes were rivers falling off my face so much that I had chapped cheeks!

I saw an eye specialist that ordered a medicine that cost $100 and burned like crazy then made my eyes itch like crazy - that went out the door. Then they wanted me to take a medicine that causes glaucoma when I already have narrow angle glaucoma and have been told to never take any medication that has that counterindication!

I saw my family physican who told me I did not have strep and that I should see an eye doctor.

I called my eye doctor that told me to see another eye doctor because he was out for two days.

The final doctor listened to about 4-6 weeks of history and asked about 50 questions. It was a very good exchange of information. Turns out that I produce too many cleansing tears and not enough of the waxy goopy tears. So I need tear duct plugs that have a very fancy name. I currently have temporary plugs in my eyes and they are a GOD SEND. Final installation is December 26 - GOD IS GOOD

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

So whenever you hear the Bible verse about being Carefully and Wonderfully made - you can believe it - God made tears in three layers - who would have thought - God does make us so very wonderful and all the balance in our bodies is a miracle indeed.

Knitting a sock with a fun lace pattern - getting ready for Christmas - going to do a different form of Christmas as we are all pretty much done with stuff but sure have fun hanging out - so we are planning some hanging out events...

Read the Bible story - see how God made us so very wonderful indeed! Psalm 139 around verse 13 I think...

December 10 - what a great day!

2007-12-10T23:01:00.000-05:00

There have been birthdays that I have dreaded - let us say 29 was not my favorite bday but 30 was fine.

For some reason I was mistaken in thinking I was 57 all year long when I was only 56. Today I am 57. And I am standing when I say that!

I had a great day - lots of phone wishes that make me feel good that others know my number! Lots of smiles all day and that was a great gift. I had time alone which I relish and time together.

In the gratitude column I have many too many things to list - the Dear Husband is number one. He is too sweet to me and always gets such thought filled gifts - replacement items that the dog chewed from VS. Candle sconces because I broke one yesterday with a candle lighter and a WREATH. Plus dinner at a favorite restuarant where they serve poached salmon - it don;t get no better than that!!

All our married years we have had wreaths - most were hand made by me in the fall for the Christmas season - but since we have been here life has been so devastatingly changing - that if fell off the horizon line - so - now - - - I will start collecting for a hand made one in the spring...

I also drank a cup of chamomile tea that I grew in the garden this summer with Stevia leaves and some lemon balm - OH dear that was good... nothing like a little garden planning in December....

OK sleep beckons - tomorrow I will start the day with joy and exercise - then the rest of the day will be as good as it can be - RESOLVE for the 3rd anniversary of my 19th birthday!

Now a thought about peace from a favorite author

2007-12-05T11:03:00.000-05:00

The best snowman ever!
By Bob Perks
All stories copyright 2007

It just came up in a casual conversation. It was one of those times whena young child asks a simple question expecting a very complex answer, but then, much to the delight of the child, hears a simple one.

It didn't carry the weight of "Where do babies come from?"

It didn't require a dissertation on religion in the 21st century.

It did however need to satisfy this child's curiosity.

It was late on a snowy Saturday afternoon. The young boy and his fatherwere cleaning up the remaining leaves and branches that fell during the windy approach of the snow storm. They stopped for a moment and sat quietly watching the snow fall.

Both were bundled up from head to toe. Mom insisted, "Im the one who will have to take care of you if you catch a cold."

So they complied adding a scarf and hat as they walked out the door.

"Dad, my friend told me that every snowflake is different," the child said.

"I believe that is true," dad replied.

There was silence.

"How do we know that?" the child asked.

Dad, now smiling, turned toward his son and said, "We just do."

Not a good answer at all. It falls into that category of "Because I said so."

"But they look all the same to me," the child added.

Now dad feels obligated to come up with a more satisfying answer.
One so profound that his son will remember this moment for years to come.

"Son, snow flakes are like people. God makes everyone of us different. We are each unique in a very special way. How do we know that? We just do," he said.

Oh, what a let down. He was doing so well. Any time you can bring God into the answer, you're heading in the right direction. I mean, when
you say "God did this" or "God wanted it this way," then you're covering
all the bases. But he went back to the original answer and blew it all...
"We just do."

The child stood up, put out his hand and watched as the snow landed
on his glove.

"They are different," the boy said. "Like people."

It worked. I was wrong the boy was satisfied with Dad's answer.

Then came the big question.

"When they are all together they are so beautiful," he said.

Then sitting down next to his dad, he looked up and asked, "Then
why don't they get along?"

"The snow flakes?" dad asked.

"No, people, dad. Why don't people get along? If people are like
snow flakes and each one is unique and special like you said,
why don't they get along?"

Wow, that's a good question. One deserving a good answer.

"I mean, when you look at these snow flakes on my glove they are all different.
When you look at the snow in the yard, all together, they look the
same. Together they are even more beautiful."

What a moment. One I believe that will hold a special place in
dad's heart forever.

But how do you answer that?

Dad sat there for a moment thinking.

"Choice," he said.

"Choice?" the child asked.

"One of the greatest gifts that God has given us is the gift of choice. As different as we all are, we have one thing in common. We can
choose what we do, how we dress, where we live, and how we
treat each other. "

"So choice is a bad thing?" the boy asked.

"Only when we choose the wrong things. Only when we make choices that go against God's plan for us."

"How do we know what's right and what's wrong?" the child asked.

Dad looked around now struggling to build upon this moment. Yes, it would have been easy to fall back on "We just do." But he was in
special place right now. He was given the chance to build upon
the very foundation of his son's faith.

Dad nervously shuffled his foot in the snow as he searched his
heart for just the right answer.

"Let's say all of this snow was all the people of the world . You are
right, together they are beautiful. They are now given the gift of choice. They realize how well they work together so they begin to build."

Dad reaches down and divides the snow into two sides.

"Both sides acknowledge their differences. One says, "Let's get
together and build upon those differences. Let's do things that will
help the world. The other side says the same thing, but can't come
to an agreement on how to do it, so they each break off into
separate piles."

Dad stops for a moment and looks at his son.

"Do you understand so far?"

"Yes, I think so," the boy replied.

Then, without saying another word, dad continued to work with the snow.

On the first side he builds three large snow balls. On the other he
builds several smaller ones.

"Which side did the right thing?" he asked the boy.

The child looked at both sides and couldn't come up with an answer.

"Dad, I don't know."

Then dad stands up and places the three larger snow balls on top
of each other.

"It's a snow man!" the boy shouts.

"Now who did the right thing?"

"The snow man!" he replies with enthusiasm.

"Yes, all these people came together and recognizing how special each of them were, they joined in an effort to build up mankind,"
dad said.

The child then stood up and gathered an arm full of the smaller snow balls. Then, one by one he began to throw them at the other small piles of snow.

"What are you doing?" dad asked.

"This is what happens when people can't work together. They call it war,"
he said.

Dad was stunned. He stood up, lifted the boy and held him tightly.

Whispering in his ear he said, "I pray to God that your world will learn to
work and live together."

The boy leaned back in the comfort and protection of his father's arms, looked at him and said, "I will make the right choice.
I will learn to build the best snowman ever."

"I believe in you!" Bob Perks

I encourage you to share my stories but I do ask that you keep my name and contact information with my work.
If you would like to receive Bob's Inspirationalstories, please visit http://www.IWishYouEnough.com and submit your email address.

and today the loft bed is finished

2007-12-01T17:58:00.001-05:00

While Mr Jackson was eating a pillow from the bed that had fallen on the floor

We assembled the loft bed

(that should have been our first clue - how many children have we raised - to know that a quiet kid can be getting in BIG trouble)

Without further ado here is Loft Bed #2

Tomorrow the delivery to Troy and Em should be in heaven!

I hear that there is snow and rain and ice in Chicago

DD#2 is ready - has blankets and extra candles and plans to sleep right through the whole thing

I hope the people from the 200 or so flights that were cancelled are as equally as prepared to camp out and wait out the weather...

Next week new adventures in Advent!

That Dog Jackson

2007-12-01T14:47:00.000-05:00

He is an angel but he is all dog.

He loves to torment the cats by sniffing the tail end!

He loves shoes and slippers and socks.

And as you disrobe for the shower he loves to capture the tightie whitie du jour.

So add one complete female ensemble to his list of chewed items. I would not be as frustrated but he sniffles through your disrobement and finds your unmentionables and spreads them about after dining on the parts he likes the best.

OK done with the rant. Back to your regularly scheduled programming!

SUNDAY - THINKING - PLANNING - PLAYING

2007-11-25T08:46:00.000-05:00

OK

So maybe the planning for 2008 should commence

PLAYING MORE

LAUGHING MORE

LEARNING MORE

That is enough planning. With those three goals for 2008 I think I should be able to do what the heck I want and cover any one of them sucessfully.

So today I will start practicing by playing all day!

See you in the funnies!

TRUE CONFESSIONS

2007-11-24T10:43:00.000-05:00

It has been quite the year.

I remember very little of it - most if it is a blur.

That is OK except I find that it creates some circumstances that are truly not acceptable.

And they say confession is good for the soul.

TRUE CONFESSIONS!

Witness the fact that nowhere in the garden was Parsley even planted. Not even in a pot for the deck. What the heck was I thinking? I remember I was not thinking when I planned my garden, obviously. So I have bought a pot of parsley and it will grow on the kitchen window sill until it comes time to plant some in the spring.

I have been working longer hours than I have ever worked before. New job in 2006 has created some stressers that I did not even think about. What was I thinking? I was bored and going to work each day was getting harder and harder to do. So I instigated the change. Did the interview thing and have gotten what I deserve in the day to day.

Secondary to that change, the dear husband has taken up the cooking for the most part. He creates great food and it is hot and on the table when I get home. How wonderful is that? It is almost a no brainer! I do not look to see what we need when I shop and he never says what he used up in the creations - - - this will change now because.....

When it came time to make the turkey I openned the spice drawer and found NO poultry spices. No Rosemary

No Sage

No Thyme

No Parsley

Oh dear, but alas, I am a gardener. I had cut some of each of the above herbs earlier in the week and they have been hanging to dry for a few days.

SIGH!

So with great courage I chopped some up and in the dressing they went. I had no clue as to how much or how many. So I went with abandon!

I have held conversations about how I grow the herbs but very seldom use them in an Herb Group. The moderator of the herb list I subscribe to told me to start - what did I have to loose? So I at least had started collecting them to start using them - - without her guidance Thanksgiving may have been an entirely different day. Thanks Tina!

Well, I am off to the showers now... I have a sock (toe up construction) I am not happy with so there will be some TINKing in my future today and maybe start of a vest.

Back to your regular scheduled chaos!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

da' Boys

2007-11-19T20:17:00.000-05:00

Have I told you about da' boys? It took the mister 35 years to finally out number da' girls.

Here they are gathered for a fine night of TV viewing...

Been crabby for the last few days

2007-11-13T22:37:00.000-05:00

I have really negative reactions to any kind of sedation - or numbing element - it makes me cranky and crabby as it leaves my system...

OK so the dog eating my sock did not help... the stockings I have to wear for the leg surgery are making me nuts... lifting restrictions make me cranky because I am accustomed to moving what I want where I want it... I am not one to say "Honey, can you empty the trash?" and then wait - I empty the trash when I want to... I do the laundry when and how often I want to and if I go to the store - I never have had to ask "Can you please pack them light?" All this makes me sound like a whiner and I am not a whiner - - except when I am crabby - like today.

Things are not settling well with me... I hear the words of an old friend and Colleague "Always do the right thing." these words echo through my head as the daily events unfold - work - politics - news - environment - you name it - how hard can it be to do the right thing - how hard can it be to get along? Is holding your tongue such a hard concept - is letting another voice be heard such a travesty?

SIGH

The garden is done and needs to be tilled one time before winter - I thought I was going to get some berry bushes planted - but not so much... come spring they will go in besides they still will not bear fruit this year and I need the time to get the deer gear ready!

I have been learning new sock patterns with Cat Bohrdi and her book - New Pathways for Socks - so much fun to learn to knit a sock from the toe up and to be able to expand for the ankle in your personal choice of areas - - - there is head work involved - - - but what fun to make the sock the way you want and put the increases at random and not according to a set pattern!

OH Kay - need to find the camera tomorrow and post really cute pictures of DH with the dog and the cat all laying on top of him as he rests on the Lounger - too cute - there is a picture of harmony - - - SIGH

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

Almost!

2007-11-07T22:33:00.000-05:00

I finished a pair of socks for a Knit A Long that I joined a few months back - it was suppose to be a pair a month - well I have not met that expectation - not even close.

I did finish a pair yesterday while resting. Today the dog ate one. So now Felecia and Emily have a new one sock. Sigh.

So Jackson has had 3 watchbands, 1 bra, couple stray socks, 2 skeins of sock yarn, 3 stuffed dog toys (which hardly count as they were his) and now a hand knit sock. I think he is about even with the rest of the pets - so up goes the gate and not so much trust about being alone in the basement. From the looks of the table the cat must have pushed things off for him. What a pair!

Sigh!

Off to the shower for me and I am going to chalk this up to trusting a puppy too soon!

Lesson learned - these things take time... Lots of time

Sigh!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

Dog vs Watchband

2007-10-28T11:24:00.000-04:00

In case you are keeping score...

Jackson - 3

Watchband - 0

Yarn - 2

The last one was too late retrieved from under the bed - which required lifting the bed and getting between the board to get what was left of the watch band. Now we have determined that anything under 48 inches off the ground is not safe. Pretty soon we will be hanging things from the ceiling.

I forget at night when I am done knitting to put my bag on the table or hang from the chair - so we are knitting a pretty knotted skein - but usable - the fitst one he got was done for!

OK so I hear some chewing... chat later... maybe with a picture of finished socks and the other hat - 2 hours - 3 attempts - 1 hat

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

Instant Gratification in the knitting world

2007-10-27T00:32:00.000-04:00

2 hours

1 skein

voila

OK In reality it was 6 hours and 3 skeins but who is counting

tee hee hee

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

Few thoughts

2007-10-22T22:36:00.000-04:00

RANDOM THOUGHTS

It is becoming more sensical to follow the directions.

Dreams last long after the dance is over.

Gardens live all year long. Either as reality or as a dream for next year!

People are an amazing study.

I am still of the conclusion there are two types of people:
Ones who are caring and truly respect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Ones who do not care about anyone but themselves and manipulate the planet to spin on their axis so the definition of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is determined by them.
Trouble is caused when the Respectful people meet the Self-centered people - herein lies the basis for all discord... think about that for a while!

I know a lot more about my self today than I did a year ago!

Blue - Yellow - Red make a variety of colors - and you can decide what proportion you want in your life!

Dogs are best at your feet and cats in your lap!

Children may grow up but they never leave your heart!

Yes and No are both perfectly acceptable answers to questions - and we should exercise the use of both with caution. We should also be smart enough to know when the yes has turned the corner to no. Sad part here - there is no instruction manual for this just daily learning.

I love to be creative. I hate being repetitive. Probably why no two Tuna Noodle Casseroles were ever the same - ever! Or why no two loaves of bread were ever the same either!

I love to create with my hands. I do not like creating the same thing over and over and over again. I like variety. Even great big trees change everyday. How did I learn this - I said I would create the same thing over and over and over again. OOOPS - seems my yes has turned the corner to no.

Fall is here. Rain has arrived - something we wanted - and needed.

Glad I do not live in San Diego CA - Where in the world is Carmen San Diego was a FAVORITE game on the computer when the kids were growing up and I was stellar at it!

Enough

Sleep beckons - tomorrow I get to have my post-op check on my vein surgery. The jury is still out on the second leg... hopefully thinking about this...

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

October if a BUSY month

2007-10-13T08:53:00.000-04:00

Good morning world, It has been a busy month. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the time of the major fundraising for the organization that employees me. Needless to say the J-O-B swallowed up a good portion of September with 12-18 hour days and the recovery from the event has taken a good 10 days. I actually feel rested today.

* * * * * * * * *

Whew, I guess that I do not recover as fast as once I did.

So what is new in the last two weeks.

* * * * * * * * *

Granddaughter turned 11 yesterday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

* * * * * * * * *

Hot tub is up and running!

* * * * * * * * *

Garden is all about over and the deer are eating the Swiss Chard everyday!

* * * * * * * * *

I finished an odd band sock for my other Granddaughter because she likes to wear unmatched socks!

* * * * * * * * *

I needed a mindless knitting project and started a shawl last night and feel better in the head.

* * * * * * * * *

Mindless projects seem to heal the overworked brain (for me anyway)!

* * * * * * * * *

I have a friend having a commitment ceremony today in another city. I wish them both well and happiness in each day.

* * * * * * * * *

I know a lot of people born in October. Valentine season babies!

* * * * * * * * *

Did I mention Jackson has learned how to play Houdini? On one walk he escaped the harness and I came home with an empty harness stating "I could use some help out here!" The next day he was sporting a standard green neck collar. Dogs are cute but clever.

* * * * * * * * *

OK! Off to the races today. We have errands to catch up on and Monday comes fast.

* * * * * * * * *

In a small way try to understand that some circumstances are beyond our control. No matter how hard we try - things break -people get sick - plans change.

* * * * * * * * *

Learning to rock and roll with change is a valuable life lesson.

* * * * * * * * *

Learning what we cannot control is another valuable lesson.

* * * * * * * * *

Whenever you include one single Hu (Human) element in an equation the answer is different.

If you include Hu+Hu then there is more control.

In a perfect world the two humans would work in harmony.

* * * * * * * * *

Always something to consider - the Hu element!

* * * * * * * * *

I pray each day that those ahead of us and those behind us on this continuum called life learn these lessons.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

Journal - September 30, 2007

2007-09-30T09:20:00.000-04:00

How does that calendar roll so fast?

Yesterday was Homecoming for 1st Granddaughter! WOW!
We went to the Homecoming Game and saw her march in the Band of the High School - just the fact that I put Granddaughter and High School in the same sentence makes my head swim.

I then put ALL NIGHT in a sentence with 2nd Granddaughter and I see that they are both in those wonderful BE-tween years!

I love my Grandchildren. That said - I miss them alot! I loved their hugs when we visited on Friday night and look forward to celebrating the next Birthday event on the Sunday of choice for The Birthday Diva.

Funny story here: One Grand is all about pink and the other is not! They too are as different as night and day when it comes to life. But inside they both have hearts of gold and their smile can brighten any day... I want them to know in that smile I see the HOPE of the future in their eyes and I hold that smile in my heart each day...

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I went out on the deck this morning and the surface was cool beneath my feet. There was a hawk in the tree above; birds at the feeder; a clear blue sky; the reflection of a fading moon; dog on a lead; and the sounds of birds chirping everywhere; the coffee in my hand was hot and the robe was warm. In my mind and heart I will hold that very real moment close as I finish up the last details of a project that have taken so many moments like that away from me.

I strive for balance. I try to also be aware of the moment. I love boundaries and have always had trouble when they become blurred. I like to know what is my job and then try to do that with clarity because at the end of the day that is all I can review as my part in making this blue sphere rotate.

In the boundary realm I realized a long time ago that I am not responsible for the actions of others - I am only responsible for my reaction to them. As I observe others I see that boundaries are a good thing... for me. Maybe others too, but they have not come to that point in the sentence and I just wait....
In the day to day I work with and for DREAMERS and they have their place in the world - BUT - in order to achieve that dream the rubber has to meet the road somewhere and mixing reality with dreams is a lot harder on the worker than on the dreamer...

Which brings me back to BALANCE!

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Did I ever tell you that I also collaborate on projects with the "Mud" of "Fiber Meets Mud"?

I do not watch as much DIY TV as he does but I love to watch carpentry shows SOMETIMES.

(if I controlled the clicker we would be watching chick movies, National Geographic, and the cooking channel)

So today when he came to me in my cave and said he was taking my advice about the current building project, I was at the same time flattered and frightened. We chatted about it and we are OK and on the same page.

I may have missed my calling I should have studied either architecture or a biology but that is a story for another day!

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Did I mention that Jackson has a relative named Houdini!

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

breathe
breathe
breathe

breathe

breathe

EXHALE

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

How do you summarize 35 years?

2007-09-25T07:47:00.001-04:00

A home made card for a hand made love - - celebrating 35 years of marriage is a very humble point in the day to day and makes a person take account of how in the heck the pages of time rolled so fast.... September 22, 1972 to September 22, 2007.

Please NOTE: There were pictures in the spaces between the paragraphs... they did not follow the blcok copy effort and are lost to the ether!

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Once upon a time you would tie one on and go off to the world… a complement would be answered…. My wife got that for me… Ties today mean two things… we are attending a beginning or ending, those events that tie the world together…

One fall day we tied the knot and our life has not been the same since… and for that I am eternally grateful and humbled.

Once upon a time we would tie one on and trip the light fantastic – dancing and drinking until well past any reasonable time of the night…

Now we enjoy a night cap of tea and comfort of the leather and healing balm of hot water….

We are tied in the aging race of aches and pains, but we still tie our shoes and away we wander, with our wonder dog Jackson…

Speaking of Jackson, Jackson harldy looks like a Lab to me – he just looks right and like love in fur… fun and happy and free of shoulds and woulds and coulds…. Just love.

Tying one on these days means a whole different thing to us….

Today we tie on hoodies and slowly tie our shoes and life - don’t get much better than that…

That just about ties it up… My little story of tying one on, but wait, there is more fun to be had…

You have recently tied on the strings of cooking and I have no words to explain what a relief that is to me…

I talked of humility and how love makes you humble… here is the Akan Dwennimmen - Horns of the Ram a symbol of strength (in mind, body, and soul), humility, wisdom, and learning.

Kinda sorta ties into your love of sci-fi

What would our story be without talking about moving from here to there Euclid – VA – Germany – OH – IN – IL – OH

And the best lesson you ever gave the progeny was to tie it on – pat it – and say everything will be OK….

And so as we tie another day into our string of life I vow again to love you for better or worse, and because we have internet that allows for other venues

Here is a sweet vow from the Hindu world

…Yes, we are partners. I am yours and you mine. ...Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound.
May the night be honey-sweet for us… (which of course I have edited to say what I want)

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AND SO IT SEEMS WE ARRIVED TO THIS MOMENT BY LIVING AND LOVING THE LAST MOMENTS THOUROUGHLY....

We celebrated the day with hanging out together. We walked the dog together several times... had lunch at an overlook I found while working one day... visited the bookstore and shopped like crazy... rested.... renewed.... went to see a crazy movie that had story lines from other classics woven into it "The Wendell Baker Story" and dinner at the National Exemplar which is always good.

And so we get going on more pages of life.... Autumn is a sweet season and my favorite one of the year... It is such an experienced season and such a good time to review and restart your journey - - - much better than January my personal hibernation month!

A thought for the next season:

THE DREAM LASTS LONG AFTER THE DANCE IS OVER

OK off to the daily grind.... blogging in the morning is a whole new way to pray...

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

How do the walls in your house get thick?

2007-09-14T06:54:00.000-04:00

OR THE PECULIAR WAY WE LIVE

First you put furniture in the room

Then there is the lamp or table

Then a basket on the floor for decoration

Then near the basket you take off your shoes
Or
The dog lays down in his bed
Or
You leave the papers there
Or
The project you were working on last week is placed next to the basket which already has shoes, papers and the project laying there. Now you are a good 4-5 feet away from the wall – that my friend is how the walls get thick. You vacuum around them and ignore the space between them and the wall. Humph!

How do kitchen counters get thick? First you have 36 or so inches of counter space. You have a bowl of fruit – then a bowl of fresh harvest – a cookie tin – a toy from the dog – a bag of beans and all of a sudden you cannot even put a cutting board of any dimension on the counter top…. Humph!

So that is how your walls get thick. I noticed that the yard boundaries get thick too! Lawn furniture – decorations – then there is the assembly of used or to be used pots – a hose – some fallen sticks and all of s sudden you are trimming 3 feet from the border because you have stuff on the grass… HUMPH!

So if this is apparent to me – maybe this is the time to de-thicken the walls – put things away and get a little straightness in my life again… Once upon a time I called this clutter – now I just see it that I started a sentence and left it hanging in mid air unfinished!

So maybe this weekend I will unthicken things. Maybe. Fall beckons so the outdoors will be rearranged and with the change in the season so will the indoors. It is just odd that so much collects around the edges of life.... but I guess that is pretty standard... for me... collecting things around the edges.... even the hips collect things! HUMPH!

Thank you Emily and John

2007-09-09T23:01:00.000-04:00

One day, earlier this summer, I was pretty upset because the local deer population ate my Sunflower plants. There was something so VanGogh about picking sunflowers that it was not even rational to consider elsewise.

So John and Emily planted some seeds in a small wading pool by the deck. I have watered them religiously and have cared for them each day. Today the gift was given to me. Sunny flowers. Taller than I am. Brilliant yellow. Happy making for a Sunday.

Oh and of course Jackson! He makes me happy too and he left them alone to grow which was a good thing.

I thought I might have socks to show you. But recovering from exhaustion is hard work. Watched two movies from the couch - Man of the Year with Robin Williams and Relative Strangers with Danny DiVito. They were both good and I stayed awake for both and rested while I watched them.

Jackson and I walked each day and that feels good to do again - I miss my walks when my work overtakes my life... Serious thinking ahead about the balance that I wanted when I took this job... Balance needed - it will be reevaluated October 7th...

Sleep beckons.

Prayers for those that wait and watch and weep this night.

Thanksgiving prayers for those things that make our days so extraordinary that without them we would not be who we are.

Thanks for the quiet moments of this weekend and the beauty in nature that renews the soul.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

A MOST Unusual Day

2007-09-08T23:46:00.000-04:00

I got home on Saturday morning when I left for work on Friday morning. 16 hour days are not on my list of things to repeat. I have been good about trying to leave on time give or take an hour. The major event season will be over after the first week of October. I will adjuicate life after that.

I napped in the mid-morning and still had plenty of day left to accomplish some errands. I chatted with my two Ohio daughters this midday and my grand-daughter who had just finished a Soccer game - lost by one point - which is good for anyone playing in this heat!

It was an unusal event - I cooked dinner while it rained. I wore a sunviser to keep the rain drops off my glasses! I know I was a site - but hey - It is Saturday and you can be as you will on Saturday. You could hear the trees saying "Please do not stop raining", but it did. Tomorrow is Sabbath.... most deserved.

I have become intrigued by sock knitting machines. Very new on the learning curve. I can with focus and normal working days - hand knit a single sock in a week. The machines knit them in little over two hours - two socks. What a concept. Still some hand work - but you always have handwork on socks! If you are interested in seeing one - type Gearhart in the YouTube video search screen and you can watch a machine knit socks.

When we were first married DH and I saw regular knitting machines - they were interesting too. Such fun things out there for the retirement years. I can hardly wait. I will pick my toys carefully in those days of play.

I chatted with my daughter in Chicago - she works in a hospital and brings home all kinds of sickies. She works with kids on the off time - whom I often consider germ factories! I know why she is sick - her environment breeds germs.... By the time we got off the phone she was better - - - hydrated and her blood was flowing better because of the pepper she spiced her chicken soup with...

OK - time to consider sleep - tomorrow I will consider taking apart more pots of flowers... Tomorrow I will take pictures of the sunflowers that my granddaughter planted for me when the deer ate the ones in the garden... the soccer playing - dancing diva is also a bird watching gardener! Hummingbirds were dining on the sunflowers - that site will keep me going for a long time...

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

Looking for the Eb and Flow of Life

2007-09-05T21:51:00.000-04:00

During this common time I am seeking to find the pulse of life again. Slow and rythmic. Eb and flow. I have started being more aware of surrounding which helps me focus. Tonight I tapped into a great eb and flow of life: Laundry - it gets dirty - you wash it and put it away - - - how much more eb and flow is that - - - when the kids were younger and I had mountains to conquer daily, I would pray for them as I folded the laundry - - tonight I prayed for me and the mister!

Someone suggested I read and sing the hymn: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Here are the lyrics...

"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms."

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms.

refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlastingarms.

refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.

refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

OK so if you need a visual think about sitting in the lap of the big statue of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial...

Off to hum a few bars of everlasting arms.... leaning.. knitting... leaning in the everlasting arms!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

COMMON TIME

2007-08-27T23:28:00.000-04:00

It is common time. The last leg of the journey that lasted one year is finished. The legs of the journey that lasted the 5 years previous have settled in and life is common. It is ordinary again. It is what I have been searching for since that day it all changed… How could it have changed so much and yet stayed the same?

It was like we were sailing in the ocean and a large gust of wind took us off course. The whole time we traveled we could see the right path, we were not in harms way, but the sailing path was not calm, not flat, not settled into any form of current that would allow for some rhythm to pulse through each day, each set of days, each set of weeks, months or years. And yet we survived and thrived and loved abundantly.

The days were full of newness. The learning was extremely intense. There were structures to build and angles to correct. Land had to rise above the water and water to dig below the ground. The windows were exciting to install and crosses marked the panes. People came and went through our lives. Friends were made and lost in the journey. Mostly happy conversations were held and mostly good humor was kept. In he end the change made life different and yet so much the same that you were not sure you blinked an eye.

I cannot say that tears were not a part of the journey. There were plenty of tears to keep the dirt and grime from the eyes, to clear the pain from the heart, to water the dreams that needed to stay alive. We shifted seats at the great table of life. Our parents are all resting in the arms of the Lord. I can feel them about on some days and I can hear their glee at some of the events that have taken place since the chairs have shifted. I have mourned the loss of gardens and flowers and I have cried at the beauty in a new blossom that I have never seen. The tears were an imporant part of the journey... as was the silence.

Some things are more important than ever and others not so much. Loving is important. Being kind and understanding to all that you encounter. Enabling is not so important any more. We each need to develop the skills necessary to traverse our own ocean. Thinking is critical and making the right choices is more important than before.

Working each day is important and for once the focus of the day’s activity makes a difference to me. I am not sure that I am using what I have 100% of the time. I am not sure the waters are calm enough in the 9-5. I am not certain at all, but I know I have the skills to survive and thrive because at the end of the day I can tell I have done what is right and good. Most days I am happy where I am and yet there is that little niggle of wanting something different in the 9-5. I will listen and I will talk and explore at the right time to see what the universe has in store for me. Right now I feel I am in the right sector of the sea. Most days!

So let the common time begin in earnest. The walking of dogs; the cooking of food; the finishing of the garden; the starting of the next season; the adventures of watching all the birds in the nest fly on their own and the love that knows no bounds continue. Let the commonest of times begin. I am ready for the ordinary part of life. It will prepare me for the next leg of the journey.

Slowly I will traverse these common days. Enjoying each moment immensely.

Not much to say

2007-08-24T00:23:00.000-04:00

HOT
dry
storms in the North of Ohio
drought in the South of Ohio
time for seasons to change

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How crazy is all that? Floods in some areas of Wyoming and Forest Fires in Montana.

Sets a person to thinking about events in a book called REVELATION...

My Dad referenced it on September 11th. His comment has set in my heart all this time.

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Thinking about joining a Sock KAL... I have a few days to decide.

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I am going to take apart all the pots on the decks and in the front - too hard to keep alive in this 100 degree heat...

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Off for a few days to finish up the details...

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I had a more concrete blog in my head - but my heart does not want to share it now!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

Gardening, litter boxes and Jackson

2007-08-12T10:55:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we installed the rope to the backyard so I could garden.

That was fine and dandy for me.

20 minutes in this heat was good for us both.

Today in the cooler morning I thought maybe 30 minutes - water bowl and coolness I thought were enough - we had already been on a walk. I turn my back 5 minutes and I find a small puppy size hole in the lawn. I go into the house on my hands and knees to gather some toys for the dog... much better! Harvest some Swiss Chard, set the sprinkler and we are finished. He does his business and we head in... Note to self: Always toys for the boy!

Like most dogs he loves the litter box and tissues!

I have tired him out and I hear foot steps upstairs - so now I can put him on the other side of the gate (remember gates when you had small children) and I can shower and do some laundry... DH and puppy are both ready for a nap I am sure...

On to Sabbath time...

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

Meet Jackson

2007-08-12T00:02:00.000-04:00

Jackson loves to cuddle

Jackson loves his squeaky toy from Rob and Donna

Moose is not interested in anything that has to do with dog

Achia the queen of aloof

At his masters feet - can you say small dog!

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Today as I cleaned the refrigerator I was thinking how it was that every two weeks I went to the store and did GROCERY SHOPPING. Then it was time to clean the refrigerator of all the leftovers that accumulated over time. Since moving here I shop pretty much everyday. I love my vegetables and meat fresh bought.

That makes the cleaning process not so often. I must admit that my daughter who lives closeby is my inspiration here - whenever you visit and go to get a drink of cold water - the regrigerator is so clean it shines. Well today mine does too - thanks for helping me be better and more like my original self that moved here over 6 years ago. It sure has been one heck of a trip these last 6 years. I want to think I am a better person for every step I have taken.

Oh and incase anyone asks there are two blue lines on a hockey field and the 4 corners of a boxing ring are named: red, blue and two are called neutral - - BATTLE OF THE SEXES questions!

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More thoughts on another day

SWEET DREAMS

GOOD MORNING TO YOU

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY AND A REFLECTION ON CHANGE

2007-08-01T22:55:00.001-04:00

the deer did not get everything

chamomile blossoms for tea

D'oh!

band socks started

and verbena

This morning, as the sky was getting light, I became acutely aware of all the change that has happened in the last 6 months.

Acutely aware of the feeling of wanting to crawl in a cave and let the worlds daily activity spin by for a few days.

It seems like years since January 31, 2007 but it has only been 6 months.

Makes a person set to thinking… the changes and chances of the world and the changelessness of God’s love….

Meditation of Thanksgiving

I offer thanksgiving for all this change... the change that has occured has been straight and direct... no dawdling... life ends... opportunities come and we advance... relocation occurs... things change... and it has been done with a fair amount of swiftness - no lingering or deciding about what side of the fence to stand on... getting on with things... THANK YOU LORD.

I believe with all my heart that God knew that if change were to actually occur that would make us each stronger and better people - it had best be done swiftly... I was not given time to whether to join in the change or to fight the change - - - not so much - - just get up that day and love and live fully that day and all else was taken care of for me... there was no anger or fighting back - - - just give in and get along little one get along.... THANK YOU LORD FOR THE PATH.

without the anger I see pretty flowers and gorgeous sunrises

without anger I do not cry as if in an outrage

I can see and hear and taste

indeed Life is Good

THANK YOU LORD.

MY WEEK...

2007-07-29T22:33:00.000-04:00

and my favorite part of the evening prayer COMPLINE

Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep may rest in peace.

1Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: your word has been fulfilled.

2My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people;

3A light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep may rest in peace.

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Be present, O merciful God,

and protect us through the silent hours of this night,

so that we who are wearied

by the changes and chances of this fleeting world,

may repose upon thy eternal changelessness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

SWEET DREAMS

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

So what is in a dream?

2007-07-28T00:40:00.000-04:00

Few thoughts:

I never remember my dreams.
I seldom sleep 6 plus hours in a row.
Currently the only common denominator in my life is change.
I am not afraid of change - I have done much to prepare for it inside - mostly prayed to accept what was to come.
Trying to take each minute as it comes and not anticipate what is ahead because that causes anxiety and stress when things turn out different.
My plate is full and I have abundantly been blessed.

So the other night - Sunday or Saturday night - I went to bed around 11 or so which is common. I went right to sleep and slept very soundly for about 5 hours or so. I then had this dream...

It was a beautiful summer day. I was in the backyard and the kids (not sure if they were my own children or my grandchildren) and I were playing some game with a ball and we were laughing a lot and just really enjoying ourselves. We noticed some birds and butterflies in the air as we played.

All of a sudden we saw a "HOPTER-COPTER" as we use to call Helicopters when my own children were small - it is a family game to rename things like that.

All of a sudden we see the "Hopter-Copter" swirl about in a huge circle and flip upside down continuing to swirl in this big circle. Reminded me of some of the M*A*S*H movies I have seen where they showed a crash or maybe another war movie - that vintage of helicopter.

I screamed "the children" and woke up as it cleared the trees what seemed to be about 50 to 100 feet away. I never saw the crash. There were no flames or noise. The trees remained green and the environment serene.

I told my friend about this dream and she said there was probably a lot of fodder there for an analyst. I agreed.

I rolled over and went back to sleep for a few more hours. Very strange indeed.

To me it says there is change about you - no one is going to crash and burn - but normal flight patterns will be disturbed and flights will change. No one will be harmed and we will all sleep better when it is over. Growth requires change. Even rivers have to move along to stay alive. Water left sitting becomes stagnant.

The Lord promised us water to refresh our souls so that we would thurst no more.

I trust that she is providing that water each day.

Everyday I trust a little more that the Lord in her Heaven knows what is best for me and leads me to the pasture just at the right time to feast upon the meal she has set before me.

No harm will come my way and I will live safely in Her protected garden forever.

Yep - my own rendition of the 23rd Psalm...

Now to sleep - perhaps to dream - thanks Will!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

Message from Casey

2007-07-26T21:26:00.000-04:00

Dear Dad,

I thought I was in heaven. With the way you treated me, the good times we had, and the life that I was living---I didn't know that I would go to sleep and wake up in dog heaven.

I guess I am writing this email to you because I wanted to say a few things. First I gotta say thanks. I know humans say you can't choose your parents and us dogs are in the same boat. But if I had to choose I would have chosen you and mom. You both were listed under my "ideal" category. I didn't know God would actually give me you two.

So, thanks for everything. Thanks for how you rubbed my belly, let me out the backdoor, gave me brothers and sisters, fed me more than I could have ever asked for and took me to more places than I could remember.

Second, I should say that you were the best. I know I was getting old and you loved me until the last day, last minute, last second. I guess I couldn't expect any less. You had it in your heart to take me in when Jan couldn't handle me. You were looking for a good home, I was looking for a good home, and we kind of just fell into place.

I fell into love with you and your beautiful kids. Especially you. I think we were best friends from the start. You know I would have done anything for you. Lord knows you did everything for me.

Up here in Dog Heaven I am getting all kinds of dogs barking about how well I had it. They bark about you a lot, all of them barking that they wanted you too.

Well, God had something special in mind when he put us together---and boy am I going to miss you. Not only you but everyone. Last, I knew I was going. In the middle of the night when you thought I was barking I was singing to you... I knew I needed some practice but I was just trying to tell you that I loved you and that I was going to miss you and mom. I sing much better up here.

Don't worry. I woke up yesterday and my tumors were gone, I took off running and for the first time in about three years I had no arthritis pain. You even knew how to get rid of all my pain.

Littl’ bit says hello and she is as young as beautiful as ever. We have caught up on our time apart and plan on sticking close to you. Dog heaven is a little better because they took away all my pain...but boy was it great living with you.

Dad, you are the greatest. Tell everyone I said good bye and that all my pain was gone as soon as I fell asleep. I will be with you forever Dad....always remember that.

Casey

P.S. Make sure Indy doesn't get near my two cats. I got friends in high places now.

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Thanks Brian that was the sweetest thing and just think no calories!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD