Star Ship Enterprise is Christened 050507

Hurray! Woo Hoo! Alelluia! Wee Hee! Cheers! Laughter! Smiles! Lots of food and good times.

Indeed the deck was christened. Everyone that calls this home was here. Three daughters, two granddaughters, 1 son-in-law and several friends came and wished us well. Finishing the deck was like putting a punctuation mark at the end of a sentence. Done.

I may have mentioned the only thing constant in the last 6 or so years has been change. Tonight the DH said "Looks like the deck has always been there." In our minds and in our hearts it was there. We Knew we wanted it - we had ideas on how it was going to look. We were aware that was the perfect berry that we sought after. But just like everything else in life - it is was a process - and because we are who we are - nothing is ever simple or straight forward. Who'd a thought that a septic tank not correctly decommissioned would have caused us this much trouble and cause such an adventure.

I often comment about some of my adventures that are so very crazy - you could not write stories that are this crazy because noone would believe what you said as either fact or fiction.

I LOVE THE DECK I LOVE THE DECK WOO HOO I LOVE THE DECK

Did I mention that in addition to the large star on the barn - DH and accomplices went and bought smaller stars and installed them while I was away at a Formal Tea? Ergo the name: StarShip Enterprise! It is splendid indeed! And the small accent Star Lights I bought while we were still in mud land are hanging so cute and romantic while in the hottub! And there are 5 stars on each post - one for each woman that assisted the DH in building the deck! One man, 5 women and about a year! Woo Hoo we are done!

I planted some plants in small transitional pots. I had about a dozen glasses of water and sat outside and drank them slowly while sitting on the deck! All in all it was a great day!

All are safe in their own little nests - the long day is done.
Soccer game won! Safe trip back to ChiTown!

Have a good week. Play some. Think some. Read some. Do a hobby. Spend time outside in the sun and then again under the stars. Reflect. Sit quietly and listen to what the the Lord of Life has to say. Love others. Be of good cheer. And try to make Monday the best day of the week.

Gardening season is about to commence! After a few more days of rest on the deck!

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

Friday at last!

Long week. Weekend produced lot of building activity which I could not post to the website. If you want a picture of the deck email me and I will send one to you.

I enjoyed all building and progress. So much needs to be done before the decking goes into place it amazes me. Like, you build your own skeleton out of bricks and blocks and then cover it with wood and decorate with plants. It actually does become a living thing because of all the work you have put into the structure. And here my DH thinks I am truly zoning when I stare off into space. Huh! lots of deep work going on there!

This week the weather was suppose to be bad but inbetween all the supposed weather there was lots of progress on the unseen parts of decking. Railings and electric wiring and new posts in place.

After the day job, I changed into super gardener and planted and dug like there was never going to be a day to garden again. That was a great release for all the stress I have been carrying around. I talk pretty loud to God when I am outside and we had the best processing of matters of the heart and head that I have had since last fall when this current stretch of the journey began. Lots of plants were happy to see my activity increase too. I did plant them in pots under the grow light but they enjoy their natural surrounds much better and seem to be happy living in the mud.

At any rate the processing allowed some muscles to relax but not all. Uneven relaxation creates an opportunity to visit chiropractor. Healing nicely today thank you!

This weekend will be busy. I have a Health Fair on Saturday and the children are going to the installation of our new Bishop Briedenthal. Husband has a meeting on Sunday and there are some segments of the skeleton of the deck that need an extra set of hands before it is sheeted.

So I am not sure how the weekend will play out. I am just glad it is Friday and I am here now and ready to enjoy the day ahead.

Blessing dear friend blessings of peace to you today and all days.

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

Monday - and other rants

OK Blogging fans

I cannot for the life of me upload any photos. I can barely stay connected to the internet. DH is considering switching from Bill Gates to the BIG APPLE. After more than three weeks of continuous frustration I am standing behind his thought process. Seems that the Anti-virus that we have paid good money for and the anti-virus that Microsoft has installed through the updates do not speak to one another.

A little narcisstic if you ask me.

Narcissism is defined as “A psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem,” and is seen as “a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development.” (American Heritage Dictionary)

I had hoped by now that Mr. Gates and his gang of computer geeks had learned to play well with others. Not so much.

Self serving.

Unforgiving.

On the soccer front - Grand Daughter tied in her first game of the Spring soccer season.

On the gardening front... I planted 9 day lilies last night. Hope they are thankful that I did that because I used any reserve energy to plant them and then when it was time to go to bed I was wide awake. Ice pack on the knee and wide awake. Nothing like the rush of good weather to keep you going like an energizer bunny.

We bought a Virbinium last fall. It is blooming. It smells like a gardinia and magnolia combined and I hope that is blooms all summer. It is the best for what ails you unless you have allergies.

On the decking front DH is done with the framing except one set of steps. The electric is almost to the barn because the solvent leaked and melted a connection or two. Yesterday we started decking with the Veranda material that is a really neat color. Only two screws to a joist. and it looks really great.

I cannot upload pictures but that did not stop me from linking to websites that held pictures of what is going on at the place that was once known as Locust Lake.

How far we have come.

How close the Lord has held us throughout this ordeal.

How safe a pasture He has laid before us.

How He loves His children!

Have a good Monday

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

Saturday night Sunday morning

I spent the early part of Saturday making kites which went well. Each kite takes 5 minutes to sew. In total each kite takes about 30 minutes to manufacture and the are easy enough - just the repition gets to me after a while.

I spent all the time from noon onward building the deck (also known as an air craft carrier)

It is rather huge! Covers the space from the back sliding door where there was a smallish screened in porch all the way to the sidewalk where there was a concrete patio to the new shed barn. Adds about 800 square feet of living space which about doubles our space and I am so excited. In reality I would rather be outside than inside any hour of the day or night.

I got to use the palm nailer today. What a fun tool. No shoulder pain tonight, just every other bone in my body hurts. The framing is all finished. The builder and designer needs to finish running the conduit under the deck before we start laying the surface because he is going to run electricity to the huge shed for light and running of things electric.

Tomorrow will be another deck building day with a soccer game thrown in there for fun and a little change up in activity. I will do the last stages of the kites and get them ready for delivery.

If I can figure out how to take a picture under 800 bits and bytes I will post a picture here soon. I even downloaded Picasa2 for ease of blogging but alas the shots are too high in bits and bytes. So stay tuned I have been given a challenge. Everyone knows me and if the answer is NO I will work things until the answer is YES in circumstances such as these.

My friend got a job at Children's Hospital and will be moving back here in early May and I am rather excited that she is coming back here. She will enjoy the deck too... Now to look at a few catalogues for plants

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

Resolution of frustration!

jpeg's too big

need to make the photos smaller in size of bites and bits

oh

well!

off to do something besides sit here and fret about having pictures too beautiful to post

woo hoo!

part two of skin the cat

Saturday, humph

Saturday

The day off from "WORK" so you can relax and play and recreate

HUMPH

I want to plant the growing collection of plants that have taken up residence in my basement and some I have started from seed are beginning to wonder if this is all there is to life.

My DH wants to build a deck, which is really a request of mine, because we had a HUGE party deck at our previous residence and the small 10x10 was not making it.

I have been having problems uploading pictures to this blogspot for a few weeks now.

So I will finish with the hope that if I sign out and start an addendum I can put up the pictures.

Google Earth can show Darfur - How come I cannot display my basement and backyard!

HUMPH!

TWO INTERESTING COMMENTARIES and other thoughts

In the Cincinnati Enquirer a story tells what Jackie Robinson must be feeling about all this Imus controversy and then author, Barbara Crafton in her daily emo, that I read almost daily offers the best last word on the whole subject.

OK with that finished.

Spring

Box HUGE arrives from Roots and Rhizomes chock full of plants. Tomorrow rain and Sunday snow - guess they will hang loose in the basement with the other assembly of SPRING.

No big deal because tomorrow is also the Granddaughters first soccer game of the Spring season.

I can hardly wait to see 'fleet of feet' take it to field and help the team score. It is a recreational league and they truly play well together and last year went to the championships and came in second - which is honorable to me because they had only played together for about 10 weeks total!

New lighting in the frontroom and dining room where the old lighting was baking the ceiling is nice and bright - yet soft and breaks up the space better than the other that looked a little too industrial for me - but gave GREAT Light!

Time to reboot the brain for another day.

Tomorrow new adventures and new things to consider important.

Disappointment Day

Some days are just like this

Best laid schemes of mice and men aft get the boot!

Imus got the boot!

He was an equal opportunity abuser!

That said - those that listened to him did not take him too seriously - at least I did not.

The weather is and equal opportunity abuser too.

Too cold and too damp to build a deck.

Building decks requires hot weather and charts to see if you are drinking enough to stay hydrated - just like when you roof a house in July (been there done that).

Other disappointments too.

Solution - live on and enjoy the day - being happy is the best revenge.

And so I will - right after I close my eyes for about 8 hours and reboot the day!

FEW STRAY THOUGHTS

"The work of creating is an act of love. The God who flung from His fingertips this universe filled with galaxies and stars, penguins and puffins, gulls and gannets...peaches and pears, and a world full of children made in His own image, is the God who loves with magnificent monotony. ~Brennan Manning

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With the good Lord willing work will commence on the deck and there will be pictures here tonight!

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Hopefully there will be soccer practice or the soccer star will become a puddle and that will only add to the messy atmosphere

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Someone suggested a new idea to me and I am muddling through the thought and reading more to feed the new thought - so much to do and so little time... I think that retirement will be the bomb to have all that play time available... I must remember to not volunteer away my days or I will have no time to play in 5 years! Yeah I am on a 5 year plan again - I love it!

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The seedlings are doing well and I am thinking with the weekend maybe some perennials can get in the soil or at least in a pot outside!

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DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF AND THEN DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO FUTHER THE GOODNESS THAT LIVES INSIDE OF YOU

BLESSINGS OF MONOTONOUS LOVE TO YOU THIS DAY AND ALL DAYS

GOOD FRIDAY AND 24 HOURS BEYOND

What matters is that you do not squander your moments of silence and solitude.--

"The Cloud of Unknowing" quoted in "Silent Hope" by John Kirvan

Silence.

A huge place to learn.

Called upon in large venue it is always hard to attain.

Sought out in solitude it is almost deafening.

Once I went on a SILENT RETREAT. The first few hours we so difficult that I almost left. After sleeping and not speaking in the start of the day the silence was a companion to me that was hard to part from when the retreat was finished.

I wonder if there was silence when Jesus was cruicified. I wonder if the people stood there for a moment and had that sunken stomach feeling like "Oh what ever did I do?" I wonder if they even realized how much they had completed a sentence that was started long before they were born.

I can only imagine how the friends and family felt as they saw him dead on the cross. They had no clue that the most wonderful miracle was about to happen because they were loved. I doubt they felt loved then or could even utter the word. They must have been so devastated. I know how you feel when someone you love dies in a peaceful fashion. I cannot imagine even being able to breath after witnessing what history tell us happened.

And yet because we know about the story and how it shifts in 24 hours we can be a people of great hope and love. We know that the cold grave owned by Joseph of Aramathea would not hold the love, could hold the hope, could lessen a life lived. The grave for Jesus was only a beginning of faith - hope - love poured into the world for you and me.

I am an Easter person.

I know that there is resurrection.

I have felt it in life already.

Silence - let us not waste the moments of silence where we learn.

Where we hear the gentle voice of God telling us we are loved and forgiven.

Surely we have time to listen in silence for that great gift... can you hear it? can you feel it? do you see it? I will sit quietly here with you while you wait for that still small voice....

MAUNDY THURSDAY, GOOD FRIDAY

HAND WASHING
FEET WASHING
MASTER
SERVANT

YOU
ME
US
THEM

ALL OF US ARE THE SAME
WE ALL TEACH
WE ALL LEARN
WE ARE ALL MASTER AND SERVANT ALIKE

WE ARE EXHALTED IN LEADERSHIP
PRAISED FOR THE GOOD WE DO
WE ARE HUMBLED IN SERVICE
KNOWING OUR HEART STORY IS PERSONAL
NOTHING WE WANT ON THE FRONT PAGE

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THEY CRUCIFIED MY LORD?
WILL BE SUNG TOMORROW IN MANY PLACES
THE SONG MAKES ME SO SAD INSIDE TO THINK THAT
I CRUCUFIED MY LORD
I MESSED UP AND I DID NOT STAND FOR LOVE
I DID NOT ACCEPT THE LEADERSHIP ROLE TO LOVE OTHERS
AS GOD SO LOVED US

MASTER
SERVANT
MOTHER
CHILD

ALL THE SAME
ALL ONE

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THEY CRUCIFIED MY LORD?

I WONDER ABOUT LIFE SOMETIMES

• If you think about executing a plan for a deck the weather will produce snow, rain and hail!
• If the plants you have been waiting for arrive the weather will produce snow, rain and hail!
• If you think that spring is here because the Dogwood trees are blooming the weather will produce snow, rain and hail!
• If you think that the hot tub would feel good because of the weather producing snow, rain and hail! Forget about it! It is closed during construction season!
• If you think that snow, rain and hail are only a description of weather - in actuality - it is a description of a season of growth and internal development of the soul.
• Snow, rain and hail are hard things to endure in a season but as I grow I find the hard times actually produce the best fruits.
• I appreciate the spring more this year having spent a day in a blizzard in subzero winds - thinking that spring will never come and I will never feel alive again because this bone freezing experience was too much to comprehend and almost too much work to recover.
• I chatted with my baby sister yesterday for about an hour.
• Chatting with your sister is good for the soul. It heals the weather that brings snow, rain and hail.
• My sister has a birthday tomorrow. She is gathering her daughter and life friend together for a day. Her life friend may be on the other side of the ether next year so the party this year is important to have for my sister.
• My friend in Louisville has a very important job interview tomorrow. A group sought her out and asked her to interview for the job. She will do fine because she is more than qualified and it is her turn to have a sunny day.
• If the Cleveland Indians make it to the Pennant race we will know that God is in Her heaven and Mom and Dad are sitting beside Her helping the Indians win the series.
• Somethings are no longer important to me and others are so important that they consume my every thought.
• I use to stay awake long into the night and fight the feeling of sleep. Now I feel sleepy and I have beat my Loving Husband to bed on occasion which is so odd that I cannot believe that I am doing it.
• I wonder how beautiful the sky must look from Heaven toward earth.
• I wonder when I learned I could read aloud in church.
• I wonder if my family knows I love them very much.
• I wonder if you met me in a shopping mall would you know that I like all of humanity because we all reflect the face of God.
• I wonder about life sometimes.

LAVENDER THYME HAIRCUT

• SPRING IS CURRENTLY HERE
• I CUT THE LAVENDER TO WITHIN AN INCH OF ITS LIFE
• THYME ALSO TRIMMED TO THE GROUND
• BUTTERFLY BUSHES TRIMMED
• WEEDS PULLED
• OTHER BUSHES TRIMMED
• 6TH ANNUAL QUEEN CITY CHESS TOURNAMENT BEHIND ME
• DOVE KITES TO MAKE
• DECK BUILDING SEASON IS UPON US AND MUD IS OUR MAIN HABITAT
• SPRING BREAK IS HERE
• MOTORCYCLES ARE EVERYWHERE
• LIFE SEEMS PRETTY NORMAL
• LET THE GAMES BEGIN................

THERE IS A MOUSE IN THE HOUSE

So I am a brave sort of a woman and I feed the birds and buy corn for the squirrels.

No big deal that raccoons like to dine in my trash cans.

I grow worms in my compost bin with lots of tender loving care.

I like fish, frogs, cats, dogs, snakes and most human beings.

I draw the line at mice and rats.

I do not do hamsters or guinea pigs either.

I think that the fact that you did so many things with mice in biology may have totally destroyed that adventure for me. I love looking in the microscope and seeing cells.

Touching mice and holding them in class for experiments.

NOT SO MUCH.

So why do I think there is a mouse in the house? On my work table was this track of what looked like oil. Now people know to leave my area alone because it is used to make WHITE DOVETAIL KITES. So I wiped it up but there was no petroleum smell but rather a very distinctive rodent smell. We had mice in our house in Wheaton, IL and I dealt with them while my husband traveled. A little DECON glued with Liquid Nails to the inside of the wall between the dry wall and the chimney - put back the piece you took out and there you are - GONE.

At my former office there was a mouse. I thought I was getting a migraine because I kept seeing this black thing out the side of my eye - like a flash - which is what signals a migraine - but nothing happened... until I saw that flash stop as it went across my line of vision. Here is this grown woman - on a chair - screaming for her boss to come and get the mouse in the office. I must have scared the mouse because it was so startled that the two bosses got a box and scooped it up and took it to freedom.

I have two cats - they will be in the house until I feel all is well.

I do a lot of things. I DO NOT DO MICE. I am brave right up until now. I am sure the Mister will come across with the solution and he will check the solution until I am satisfied they are GONE. Think I will move the bird food outside to the shed.

Sweet Dreams.

SPRING FINALLY SPRING

OK

So I thought I could upload a few pictures of spring in the backyard

Not so much

Trust me they are there - daffodils - hyacyinths - small starts of Yarrow - VERY MUCH Bee Balm is back - the Thyme is perking up - the hen in a basket is going wild

I see signs of the wild Tiger Lilies - the Bridal Bush is budding - soon we will have mint for the tea... and of course the Mud Man is digging a trench to finish the sump pump drain system that he installed inside this winter.

One would not know it was really spring unless there was mud involved.

I have been busy with work... and I still need to make kites.

I found out recently I do not do overload very well. I decide I am finished and I close up shop and stop.

This will be very interesting to see how the next few days play out. It will either be vitamins or coffee that will keep me going...

Oh Lord guard me and make haste to help me. Guide me waking and guard me sleeping.

Spring wonderful spring - soon it will be deck season and I will be happy that Mud Man is doing work with fibers that create "Party Decks" and then we can let the good times roll.

Check the clock... tempus fugit!

LIFE IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME LIFE IS GOOD

GOOD FOR LESSONS
LESSONS FOR GOOD

Countdown to 6th Annual Queen City Chess Tournament

Been a LIttle Stressed so...

Some periods in life are just full to the brim with the stuff of life - - so my blog does not get old and boring I thought I would share some of my private journal writings.

I once again have changed the names to protect the innocent.

So for the next few weeks I will open up the journal and share at at random.

Blessings to you this day and all days.

Really!

Change

Things change.

I am not sure why, but the blessing of the words from Compline resonate in my mind often - the changes and chances of life. In fact, they have been a guide and a consolation over the last two years of change.

Things change.

One day out of your kitchen window you are even with the tops of trees and the forests before you sway to the breeze. The next day, your view is of tree trunks and your windows tilt in for easy cleaning. You can see about 150 plus feet of flat backyard waiting for planting and wildflower gardens.

Things change.

One day all your children and family are fine; the next day they are all under your roof and you travel 350 miles to care for dying parents. These are the changes and chances of life that Compline tells of for sure.

Things change.

I volunteer a lot. I volunteered to be a missionary to a restart of a church in a nearby community that was struggling. New people, new hymns, new format, new pews, new stories to hear, new vicar, new just about everything. I feel I was called to volunteer. I certainly had a choice and as unsettling as all the "new" is I love this congregation. All are new to me and because who I am and how I love - I love them all as great new friends that I haven't met yet. And they make me happy and refreshed in that they love me the same.

Things change.

Occasionally I will attend the familiar grounds of my former church. I will sit in my familiar pew and gaze upon all the new faces that surround me. Surely there are familiar faces, but not always. I realize that the church that gave me strength to volunteer to be a missionary has changed also. It has grown new families and new children come forward for the children's sermon. I even find that when an early service is not possible that the 11:15 service is a good solution, which I savor and try to understand why the changes and chances of life have put me here. You see I never saw myself as an 11 O'clocker, but the Lord finds me there sitting and praying and listening.

Things change.

I have never been a fan of change. I am a rut runner. I can walk the same path daily and never bore of it. The Lord had different ideas. She wanted me to be more open to all the full blessings of life. He wanted me to spread the Gospel in areas unpathed. So here I wander in my new church surroundings. I love it here. I love the new blended congregation. I pray that they love me too. Newness and change are sometimes hard to read - - so I journey on - - praying for the full blessing that comes from the changes and chances of life.

A DAY AT SPA LOCUST

A day at Spa Locust

Sleep until the cats decide they have been patient long enough

Coffee is ready after you feed the cats and is served in fine china mugs with Chocolate Soy milk

A very nice drive along the Ohio River delivers you at Jazzercise Class where you stretch and bend every joint and muscle you own and you visit with people you have not seen since January - great for the soul and the body

Another lovely drive along the river and you are in the area of Fiberge' the Local Yarn Store

Some knitting needles and sock yarn and a latte' for good measure and you are filling up the car because you never want the embarassment of calling the spouse and saying "er' ah' uhm I ran out of gas..." AAA will come and help you but you just do not want the embarassment, no matter who helps you!

Great lunch of champions - ala Peanut Butter and Bleuberry Jelly sandwich and cold Lactose free milk

Then the crown of the afternoon - a lovely 20 minute soak in the hot tub while you watch all the birds and squirrels scamper about the yard...

So the rest of the day will be spent on hobbies and cooking and just sheer relaxation

Happiness in your own back yard - don't get much better than that!

SATURDAY

It is Saturday, finally. Some weeks are just longer than others.

I have a plan in place. Travel downtown to see some old friends and do an hour of Jazzercise. Come home and do some kites because the order is due on Tueday.

DH installed a router so I can run my laptop from work without closing down the personal computer! I will forward what I need printed to the personal PC and voila - it will be like real work...

I chatted with my sister yesterday. That was fun. We got caught up on a variety of stuff that women just chat about and that felt good. We both admitted that the fog was lifting and maybe next week we would be conscious of our surroundings every day. My question is: While I have been in this fog - who was driving my car? I do not see any big dents so I guess I missed all the permanent obstacles! Whew!

Happy Birthday to my priest friend in Columbus Ohio. Enjoy the day! You are a blessing to the world.

We bought a bird feeder for finches two weeks ago and the results have been overwhelming. At any one time there are about 20 finches at the feeder. Awesome. DH was the person that thought about getting them and put them in the cart - BRILLIANT thanks.

I ripped out three inches of the sock I have been knitting all week. There were ladders and the pattern wobbled all over the place. Today smaller needles and more of them. The pattern called for 5 needles and I had 4. I know that one more would have made the pattern easier to follow because there would have been an even split of stitches to make each needle even and the pattern would not have had to be divided - - ergo it would avoid the tendency to ladder the stitches. I bought this book of sock patterns a while ago - the book is in the shape of a sock... DH just noticed this... silly man!

OK off to do breakfast and change into some Jazzercise friendly clothes - have to be able to do those kicks you know....

Chat later...

One Disjointed Day

I think I let the dog out about 3 am. I left the dog in at 5:45 am. I am sure he had a good walkabout.

I exercised - 10 minutes of cardio - 10 minutes of weight bearing exercises.

I got to work and my laptop was locked up in a different office and traffic made that person late - so I cleaned up some personal mail and updated my Franklin pages

Work was work and had its fair share of chaos that made me disjointed. They drink the worlds worst coffee - some offices drink Sam's Club which is OK - we have IGA house blend - - feed it to the acid loving roses is what I say - surely not to my stomach. I wrote a note to Caribou to think about putting a coffee shop in the newly developed strip mall down the street. Wouldn't that be convenient!

I ran a ton of registrations for the BIG EVENT at the end of the month, which is craziness all by itself. Calling parents and asking rudimentary questions should not be as hard as it is...

I had a tour of our facility for the BIG EVENT and that instills panic in me because I get so turned around

I came home and we went to dinner and ran into some dear friends which made the dinner all that much nicer

Bookstore where I found a new 10 minute segmented Pilates DVD - woo hoo

I filled the hot tub and it registered a whole 45 degrees - going to take a while until it is a nice and toasty 104!

Here I am - still a little frazzled from the day

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Speaking of BIG EVENTS - WE went to the circus Friday night - not only did we go - we had front row seats and we were invited to be Celebrities in the Greatest Show on Earth... I truly believe it was the most fun we have ever at a circus... we rode the circus trains... the 14 year old had a blast and thought it was going to be a little childish - but alas the circus is for children of all ages... proved that ... DD bought the hat and we all can say that a memory was made...

tee tee hhheeee hee

I am a Circus Star and I have the badge to prove it!

I highly recommend the circus to anyone and go ahead spring for the good seats... you are always a child at the circus!

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Some of my garden seeds arrived yesterday and I went to the mailbox tonight to check if any other treasures arrived today - perhaps the soil plugs that I will use to start them!

Not so much!

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I went to Radio Shack to buy a LAN Line for my work laptop and the process was too difficult without specifics so I crossed the mall and went to Victoria Secret's - - we all have our bad habits and that place among others - has become mine... just stocking up so that during the BIG EVENT I have plenty of clean things... besides the garden store only had bird seed for sale and DGD and I did that Sunday and the birds have been very thankful for our adventures.

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So you say sounds like a normal day in the life eh? OK that is fine with me.

Oh! If you get a chance to notice there are about 1 million stars in the sky and it is very clear tonight for viewing - check them out! Thanks Mom and Dad the stars are a great message that all is well in the heavens...

Tomorrow is Friday. I will start my day with

A Morning Resolve.

I will try to live a simple, sincere and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity and self-seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence; exercising economy in expenditure, generosity in giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust, and a childlike faith in God.

In particular I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, study physical exercise, eating, and sleep which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.

As I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father and Mother, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Magic Wand

Sometimes life seems so seriously wrong that we believe that we may need a magic wand and that if we had such a tool we could wave it and make whatever problem at the moment correct.

Magic wands come in a variety of forms. Sometimes they come in the basic relaxation skill of breathe ~~~ exhale. When things go awry I often hold my breath. This does not facilitate thinking very well. It does not encourage living very deeply either. Holding ones breath creates havoc all its own.

Magic wands are often medications prescribed by medical professionals to cure what ails a person.

Magic wands can often be found in these words: I lay my hands upon you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, beseeching our Lord Jesus Christ to sustain you with his presence, to drive away all sickness of body and spirit, and to give you that victory of life and peace which will enable you to serve him both now and evermore. Amen (BCP, p.457)

Magic wands can be used in times of frustration. After long suffering and patience tested to a tiny thread I have heard one person say “I will just go in there and wave my magic wand and everything will be OK.”

I have witnessed magic wands at work during a furniture moving adventure that was instigated by no one doing the actual moving. After stopping three times to secure the ropes, I heard a very brave young woman pat the furniture and say, “It will be just fine.” and she got in the truck and drove home. It was just fine.

A Magic wand is found in the words: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Surgery to remove a part of the body that is not playing well with the majority of the body may be a magic wand. I know of several people who have lived very fantastic lives through the great mystery of modern surgery and I am glad of it. Without these mysterious wands of science I would not know some amazing stories about sugar cane, or the Great Depression or how candy was made by my Grandmother, a Confectioner.

Magic wands come in several shapes and sizes and in words such as Sister. My magic wand today was hearing the voice of my Sister. It healed what hurt and gave me a smile and some peace. After all isn’t that what we want from magic – a smile?

Father Freeze and Forgiveness – a rather odd combination

"Not to forgive is to be imprisoned by the past, by old grievances that do not permit life to proceed with new business. Not to forgive is to yield oneself to another's control... to be locked into a sequence of act and response, of outrage and revenge, tit for tat, escalating always. The present is endlessly overwhelmed and devoured by the past. Forgiveness frees the forgiver. It extracts the forgiver from someone else's nightmare."

~Lance Morrow~


OK, so Lance did not know my Dad, neither did Father Freeze. Neither of them knew how stubborn I am either. It is probably a good thing for both.

The priest that said the Mass of burial for my father was ROMAN CATHOLIC. No doubt in any fashion, he knew the rules of the faith and he was going to follow them. I learned at a very early age that the rules of that religion did not suit my faith as it was developing and had clearly chosen other thought processes to occupy my time while in school. (Yes Becky that is how those grades you found came to be – I deliberately chose not to pay attention.) I had thought that God was much bigger than the rules and tenants of the Roman Catholic faith. God loved everyone and the thought that some of my non-Catholic friends would go to Hell because they were Jewish, Protestant or Episcopal simply did not make sense to me. Surely the Indians of Peru did not need to become Roman Catholic to go to the Great Maker. I thought I read that they were very reverent people – surely the care of the earth and respect for life was what God wanted from us all. I saw at a very early age the universal part of religion and never quite left that thought behind.

So as the Mass planning progressed I realized that there would be no Joy in Who-ville at that service. I realized in complete affirmation why I am no longer a Roman Catholic and just had to decide how abiding I was going to be. By all rights I could receiver Communion because I was Baptized Catholic. Somehow that solidarity did not bode well with the guiding voice from within that day.

I was sad for Fr. Freeze and I was sad that Dad had raised us to think for ourselves and had to be handed off to eternity by a man that did not have an original thought or way to express Resurrection into eternity to a grieving family.

God Bless my sister. She smuggled Jesus to Becky who was reduced to a mass of tears by the statement that the Body and Blood of Jesus was for Catholics ONLY and the rest of us could stay in our seats. Forget the blessing of the heathens – we were chastised and left to rot in the pews.

So my children – they were also raised to think for themselves – finished singing every verse of the exit hymn and then got in their respective cars and called a priest who understood thinking and celebration of Resurrection.

Good for them I say – Good for them. Lance was being proven correct:

“Forgiveness frees the forgiver. It extracts the forgiver from someone else's nightmare.”


My children understand forgiveness in totality. It may take a few days to process the forgiveness to completion, but when all is done, they are free. There may, at times, be well placed comments about stupid choices or actions done by others to them or their friends; but generally when they are done forgiving life continues at its regular pace.

I knew that I had to forgive Fr. Freeze before the end of the day. I had enough to handle and carting that man along every step of the way was more validation than he deserved. He needed to be left in the pew.

So today, in my head, that is where Fr. Freeze is sitting, in a pew waiting for the Joy of Resurrection to be delivered to him. I only hope that every time he has to say a Mass of burial for a family he hears the haunting sobs of my daughter and the heat fails to work.

My God is an awesome God.
My God is a big God.
My God is a strong God.
My God loves everyone even Fr. Freeze.
My God made us all to celebrate life and the lives of those we love.

So tonight as you rest your head on the pillow – think about being finished with the things, actions and activities that were not working so well for you. Say, “I am pretty much done with that, moving along now, different horizons to see, different ideas to think, and different people to love. I am free to do this. God loves me and wants me to love others the same way He loves me.”

See how you feel in the morning. I bet you walk straighter and I bet your feet feel lighter because you are not carrying the past anger with you as you traverse the world.

Walk gently and leave nothing but footprints. That is what Lance, God and my Dad would have wanted.

2-15-07

I am missing my community

Since mid-August there has been an amazing community about me.

A wise father, an amazing husband, two loving sisters, a jolly brother-in-law, three stellar daughters, one splendid son-in-law, eight nieces and nephews ranging in age and interest, one niece in law who rocks my world, two grandchildren who are the apple of my eye, and a few stout and strong friends, work cohorts in various locations, family of said people, friends, and acquaintances at church and online.

Tonight I am missing my community. I am in my very nice home that looks like I live here, smells like home to me, is familiar in all it sights and sounds, comfortable and comforting, and is about all I ever want in the way of a home. I have spoken to just about everyone mentioned in the above litany except my wise father.

I saw birds at the feeder today. I have been waiting since December to see them. The snow is staying on the branches and it fills up your eyes with wonder at their beauty. It is cold and quiet outside and yet there is an amazing peace at the sound. My sister saw a shooting star tonight, her first ever. My sister passed her "inspection" at work.

I hear my Dad say "Look here, I am still near you. I will stay for as long as you need me to be here." Well Dad, we need you to be near for a while longer.

Thanks for keeping us safe through the snow storm we traveled through to get home. Thanks for teaching me how to write well all those nights you dictated book and history reports to me and I was so tired that I could not see the page, much less understand what you were saying. Thanks for just about everything - even the times when our ideas did not meet in the middle - you taught me that one can use your problems as a hole to climb into or turn the hole upside down and use it as a step up. I think without the adversity of our relationship during my teen years I would not be the kind of person I am today.

I am helping to give a sermon on Sunday February 18, 2007. I expect you will be there, please bring Mom.

We are also having another celebration of your life and witness in spring, with lots of music of varied sorts and different writings. A well thought out celebration. We need to be able to celebrate you the way you raised us - with thought and caring - not by some cut and dried - no room for love formula dictated by a church that knows about its rules but not about LOVE. You are also welcome to hang out with us then, bring Mom she will enjoy the sounds and she always loved a party.

Well the clock is blinking 10:38 pm. I need to sleep. My community is safe and each in their own home and I know they miss each other too. I heard you chuckle when I told this story.

LIFE IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
ALL THE TIME LIFE IS GOOD

GOOD FOR LESSONS
LESSONS FOR GOOD

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

Home sweet Home

It took us 9 hours to travel from Cleveland to Columbus because of the weather.

It was 2 hours from Columbus to Cincinnati - maybe more because we took a tour through some country roads and listened to Dad tell us stories in our own heads and then we went to eat lunch

I am thinking that Grandpa said to make them struggle to get home so that they will appreciate it more and God said OK

I called Tony while we were in the car. Tony said that he would plow the driveway and keep and eye on the house. Good ole' Tony.

Now if you are my children you are hearing me in my most affectionate affirmative way echo the sounds of the Italian neighborhood I grew up in. Yo Adrienne, would have been a sound you would hear in our neighborhood - - maybe sometimes Yo Estella, would ring through your window along with the wafting smell of sauce and meatballs and pizza. These little tiny Italian women making meals that would feed the multitudes and they were so tiny these women - it made you wonder how they lifted the pots - - maybe that is why we heard "Yo Tony, come here a minute."

Eulogy February 5, 2007

Bob, Grandpa, Dad

My father was a Chemist

He knew that all things in life had weight, mass, properties and a lifespan.

My father was a Professor.He taught in a myriad of ways and on a vast variety of topics.Walks in the parks were always full of history, science, biology and natural history lessons. He could tell you what tribe walked what glacier area in what period and they ate what natural food to survive in the forest you were traversing. It was a most amazing thing.

This natural ability to teach about nature instilled in his children and grandchildren and great grandchildren a love of the environment and learning that will be carried into the future for the betterment of the world.

While he always had a book that he was reading most of this knowledge was in his head and in his heart and he shared them freely. Loving was a natural state for Dad.

My father was a professor. He taught a variety of Chemistry courses, Photography and he tutored his children in whatever class they happened to be struggling with at the time. In my case, I always have lived far away from home, when the children came upon a puzzlement we called Grandpa and if the call was before 11 pm you could guarantee the correct answer delivered in a way that would impress the information in your head but also in your heart.

Bob, Dad, Grandpa he taught you as an adult and let you walk through your lessons with gentle words and a full dose of worry on his part. He always had kind things to say about whichever sibling I asked about. He would just say that she is having her fair share of troubles. Leave it at that and let me find out the details on my own.

We three sisters are much the same. We weigh and measure things in our own fashion. I am an administrator trained in sociology and I measure things by process. Bobbie is a nurse and she measures things that reflect the human condition with a special love and affection for the geriatric set. Mary Ann is a pastoral and human care giver and records the lives of many people in her gigantic heart. We all like a certain amount of order and quiet in our lives. We all have learned that being respectable is a hard thing to attain, but worth its weight in gold.

Some of these words that I use here are a summation of statements that I have heard over the last few days. Words used by his grandchildren and those that came to love him over the last 82 years. I never heard a word against this man I call my father. He was respectable and respected.

Dad always had a lesson for you if you wanted to listen but never forced you to learn. Gentle and kind he gave us his character and when it is all said and done that is a great gift that can be handed over to his progeny.

My father, being a Chemist, kept records and journals long before it was the IN thing. When we were dismantling the homestead we found a variety of forms that kept the record of change over a lifetime. There were checks and bank records dating back to the mid 1960's. There was every possible warranty for every item that he and Mom owned. Didn't matter - it was kept for the record. Dad also was aware that he had a lifespan and started keeping the record of that change in his human coil everyday, for many years.

I found it quite revealing that the last place the calendar was marked was the week of his birthday, January 22, 2007. Pen in the book, rubber banded to the week of January 21, 2007.

Dad was aware that the changes that were happening meant the properties and masses and weights of his body were ending.

When the doctors told us that the body was not playing well with the world Dad said, "guess that they cannot fix me anymore." He asked for his time piece to be removed, he was done measuring time, weight and mass.

He then proceeded to give us the most peaceful lesson on Eternal life that anyone has ever seen.

His granddaughter said that his dignified way of going into eternal rest was so plain and straight forward that the words Eternal Rest will always ring with his dignified exit from this life.

Bob, Dad, Grandpa, hero, teacher, friend, inventor, counselor, husband, role model and gift to the world, you will be missed more in your human form than I can express, but we will always carry you in our hearts.

With love, Franny, Bobbie and Mary Ann

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Today I was thinking of all the people I have met along the way to this point right here in my life. I was thinking of my children. How I raised them to adults and taught them what I know and now in return they are teaching me some new tricks just by the way they live their very lives, everyday all the time.

I was sitting here thinking about how I have become the sum total of all the people I have loved in my life. I was thinking of all the times I have met Jesus along the way in my travels and all the people that have been Jesus to me. I was thinking of my daughter, Lori, in far away Chicago; she is having some sorrows in her life now. My daughter is a risk taker; she loves people deeply and risks being hurt just as deep. She has taught me to take calculated risks in my life. I am glad I raised Lori to be the person she is and that I have listened long enough to her to take risks as boldly as she does. I can listen to my children and learn a myriad of ways to deal and cope with life today. My children are a blessing to me.

Did I ever tell you about the miracle of Pearl and May, two sisters who lived in the mountains of Virginia? The town was small but prosperous. It was a full and abundant town, they knew everyone and everyone knew them. Life in the town was pretty normal – you know – babies - grow up – school - life – marriages – deaths – pretty normal. But there was a miracle in that town. The two sisters owned two farms which butted right up against each other, farm to farm all along the mountain side. All summer long they grew fruits, vegetables and herbs. The ones in need knew when to come around to help with the harvest. Pearl and May always had enough for themselves and for the person in need that came to their door. All summer they canned and put up for winter so they would have enough for themselves, because the weather would set in and there they were on the mountain until spring. Pearl and May did a miracle each winter. They owned a small trailer that was between the two properties. Each winter as the weather set in they moved to the trailer. All winter long they lived in there and to keep themselves occupied they made baby quilts. Every baby born in that town was wrapped in a quilt hand made by Pearl and May to keep them warm in the winter when the weather set in. Now I went to the mountains that summer thinking I was going to fix some houses and help the people in need… little did I know that I would become the one that got fixed. I think of them often when working in my garden and taking food to the Free Store Food Bank. I am not sure who helped who more that summer.

Then there was the preacher I met another summer, I was back in the mountains helping make homes warmer, safer and drier; still thinking that others were the ones that needed the help fixing their lives and homes. I was still stubborn and still young, still thinking I was going to change people in the mountains, little did I know they were there to change me.

Our job that summer day, while we were waiting for supplies to be delivered, was to go to this store front church and help this man put chairs up for a singing that was going to be held that evening. The church was called “The Church of the Double Blessing”. We set up about 90 chairs that we brought over from the school. We got to talking to the preacher and he sure was a friendly peaceful man. He told us how on Sunday when they met to pray each person would lay their needs at the foot of the cross and they would bless them during the service. After the service, the preacher would take the needs and read them and start to pray. One by one he prayed for their needs. Now these needs were basic. A ham for a family, shoes for the child, a car repair for the family car that took half the neighborhood to appointments. He would pray and bless them and then he would wait. He waited on the Lord. One by one the needs would be answered. A store would call with an extra case of hams; someone would call with an offer to help a family with children that needed clothes and shoes. He waited and one by one the prayers were answered each week. That story gave me Goosebumps and it helps me to this day to pray and wait. To wait and pray. I learned to be patient and wait setting up chairs in a church called “The Church of the Double Blessing” odd that name, not really if you think of how the miracles came to each person there.

There are other people - a teacher who listened one day on the phone to words that I had buried so long and so deep I could barely speak them, but she waited for me to finish the sentence and was quiet longer until I could breath again. I have recently found my sisters and have enjoyed their company and conversations. I recently discovered how journeying with my Dad has sculpted who I became even when I left the home and started exploring the world at a very young age. As hard a job it was to dismantle the homestead that lesson was the most clarifying to the soul.

Indeed all these people that I have met, all these sorrows that I carry, all the joys that I have had brought me right here right now talking to you. I am all these people. There is love enough and love enough to share.

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

HAPPY NEW 2007 TO YOU!

Sunday, New Years Eve, was a dig out day! We moved here in November 2001 and it has been one dam thing after another. I decided to unpack or give the boot to boxes left unopenned after 6 years in the basement.

I did just that - two boxes of stuff to Goodwill and two large bags in the bin. Out of here! I am ready for 2007 to be normal and calm and maybe even a little boring! Who knows it might be a different sort of experience. Probably not my experience - but hey it is always good to have a goal.

In the evening of December 31 as a tradition - DH and I played our 35th annual Scrabble game to celebrate the New Year. DH is a reader when not playing in the mud or sawdust or carpooling - it is one of his major hobbies. I like to knit, stitch, cook, garden or whatever I choose to entertain my hands that day. So playing Scrabble with DH is always a challenge and winning is even a bigger accomplishment! BUT I did it!

Monday we had the traditional Pork and Saurkraut with Mashed Potatoes and Applesauce. Some would consider that meal penence, but we call it celebration being good German and Irish people.

Now let the year commence. We are ready.

I saw that popular New Year resolutions are to find a new job, get in shape and exercise more. I have already done two of the three top resolutions. I just need to kick up the exercise a notch for January and February to counter any affects the lack of sunshine may have on my sense of humor. It is a thought and a goal - I will let you know how it goes. So far two days in a row...

Pray for one another this year. There are some lonely souls out there that need your prayers. Some confused people.

Pray that hopes stay alive.

Pray that youth are safe.

Pray that each person can be open to the next person that they meet that is different than they.

Pray for that still quiet voice to carry you through the dark lonely parts of your path.

Be patient with the driver in the car ahead of you.

Eat a really great salad for dinner and then a few cookies for desert.

Hug your sister or brother if you can.

Be kind one to another.

Enjoy the day...

Merry Christmas to all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn10FF-FQfs

Amen alleluia amen.

Thought while baking...

Christmas and these cookies are a necessity with which I will not do without...

... it was a cold and stormy night.

... hummm 12 cups of flour and this bowl do not work...

... pizzelles would make the children happy, he said with a grin, knowing that it would make him happy too!

... don't forget the dog food tomorrow...

... a humble and contrite heart...

... bread making is such a fun thing to do in the winter and I am glad I do not have to do it in the summer...

... love - whether you love one person or 20 people - the yield is almost like yeast - more than you started with... so when new people come into your circle the love is not lessened but multiplied...

... oops forgot that there was a date with the children and friends who sing at a local pizzeria tonight. OOPS Sorry about that... they are playing until 10 and that is 3 hours, but what about the pizzelles? the bread? guess I am missing the party and they toast to my new job.

... I miss seeing my sisters. That is a new experience because until recently I did not see them but every 5 years or so. Life has given us back to each other and that is good.

... annuities and security and growing old...

... a new job... every day in 2006 was allowed to be different

... a new set of friends... going to keep a few of the old ones for sure

... are pizzelles better than chocolate chip cookies or just different...

... I will start to Write things down more often ...

be well - be kind one to another - treat all people with patience and listen more than you speak and bundle up when it is cold outside...

Check ya later after the reason for the Season has come and made a new home in my heart...

Friday, December 22

Good Day to you sirs and madams,

This is a year for renewed memories. Old will blend with new and love will seal the gap.

Nights will be happy and tears will cleanse away the pain and sorrows.

You can be at peace knowing that even if the world is askew (as our Christmas tree is askew) you can have peace and love within your soul.

Life is an amazing miracle. LOVE is an amazing element in that life.

I am off to see what the day has to hold now that my lap has adequately held the cats and my leg has had a few more puncture wounds from said cat.

Enjoy your miracles today. Smile a lot and let others see your peace.

Love,
Fiber, who met Mud, and created strong willed children.

HEART BREAK HOTEL

Today did not start out to break my heart

but the day did a fine job

The sight of Christmas ornaments that always lived at my parents house was so hard to see on the floor of my house

My daughter was sad because a life freind had to cancel plans with her tonight because her house was full of children with the flu

My other daughter had sadness of another sort to share

The day was meant to be a joyous one of setting up the Christmas tree and seeing the old meshed with the new old ornaments which did happen

We had fun trying to lift the 250 pound live balled tree to a proper position in the house

So we have a "Charlie Brown" slanted tree. It is a fine specimen of spruce, but it sits a little askew

This is the season of giving

I would give all I have to bring things back to the way they were when the ornaments were new

To bring the acedemic year back to its start

To make people well

Gift of the Magi - I am off to research the story - I think it has a lesson there I need to read again.

Peace to you this season - happiness from within - count what you have and be blessed - I am in all my family blessed - thank you for being in my family....

Tuesday - Tuesday - Tuesday....

It was not a Monday it was a Tuesday - but you sure could have fooled me.

I was somewhat productive... all things being relative

Remember that new toy well it was christened tonight

In the most traditional of ways

One thing I decided today while waiting for the cars infront of me to move... no matter how the powers decide what is best for them - no matter how things turn out as I wait for an answer - I have been true to myself - I have been honest about who I am and my capabilities. I can sleep at night knowing that I did the best I could do. I have not lied or cheated. I surrounded myself with friends who support me and believe me to be who I am so I could ask for references.

I cannot be responsible for how others act or think - I can only be responsible for how I act and how I think. So let the decision makers get it together. Let them decide who they want on the team and if I make the cut super I will dance with Snoopy all night long. If things turn otherwise I will also dance because I will not have to be miserable because a sound decision was not made. I guess I am at a point in my life where I do not suffer fools gladly, seeing myself as wise.

So that is where the head and the heart are today sports fans...

Be good to yourself and enjoy your wisdom that you hold inside yourself...

HUMPH

It is so hard waiting.

When you want change to happen you want it now - not in the universal best time.

So I am waiting and I am trying to be of good spirit and of good cheer. I find that noise makes some minutes go faster and then again silence makes others fast forward. I know I am in an impatient time because I am listening to NPR radio and actully paying attention to Diane Rehm, whose voice usually takes me off the planet.

I am trying to focus on the days and be a good scout...

Change - never sought it so hard.

Change - never came so involved with its passing.

Change - never took an interest in it.

Maybe 2007 will be the year of more change, but change I seek out and mold to my life.

Oh Lord I pray.

New toy still reading the directions. Tomorrow I will not have the standing restrictions I have today and I can make some cookies - - - - wonder what kind? Any guesses?

See you all in my dreams tonight....

Your new version of Blogger is here!

No thanks having enough change in my life right now. Trying to remember what end of I-71 I am on is hard enough. There have been days that I have to purposefully decide what day it is - what city I am in and where I am going as I wake up in the morning... that my friend is way too much change for me.

At one time I had thought I wanted to do some extensive travelling - - well after this month as they say in Chicago and points North "Forget about it"

I like driving where I go. As hubby says - we can take our reality with us... So USA trips by car maybe - - short ones. Chicago was great - I love that city - Columbus - Cleveland - Logan - Newport News - North Carolina - Appalachian Mts.

These will have to be in a few years BECAUSE on January 2, 2006 I wrote down on a note card that "every day is allowed to be different" and the earth powers took me at my word. Each day has been different for sure.

I am writing for 2007 "everyday is allowed to be calm and routine" and see if the earth powers and I agree... I think that the statement that my daughter said after reading some letters I wrote home when I was first married is the truest summation of my life I have ever heard... "You have never had a dull moment, Have you?"

No dull moments....

So I am going to seek a few quiet moments with my daughters sweater, doing the front neck increases... for the first time...

Here is another picture of us at the Oirachtes in Chicago last weekend...

Oireachtas is "a feis on steroids."

Imagine: One dancer, plus a minimum of one parent, add in a few siblings and grandparents.... multiply that sum by 5 thousand and you will know how many people were at the Hyatt Regency O'Hara this weekend for the three day 2006 Midwestern Oireachtas.

There were jigs, reels, sets, choreographed dances, treble jigs, solo competitions and team competitons (names of things I can remember). The dancers started early and they stayed late. They were dancing when we arrived on Friday afternoon and were still dancing when we left on Sunday morning. This is a competition that takes dancers to the World Competition in Ireland. There is a certain joy at these events that is palpable and a certain amount of respected sorrow. This is a place where dreams are made and moved or removed.

Dancing ages begin in the U6 category and continue to the Adult category and every combination in-between.

We, Irish, have many stories and icons attached to our heritage. Cabled sweaters, Celtic roping, Celtic music and a variety of "Irish" motifed items are common forms of expression. So you can imagine the combinations of displays of art that vendors display. It is hard to stay in contact with your cash. I am not a shopper and I did not even look hard at the tables... My daughter did look and surrendered to the vendor that had "hoodie" event jackets and sweatshirts. The dancing granddaughter can now wear her Oireachtas hoodie because she earned the right to wear it. DD#3 can wear her sweatshirt as a memory of a fine time with the family support team. Laughter was in abundance as we told story after story in the true Irish tradition. Some stories true and some stories sheer spin.

The drive to and back from Chicago was uneventful "Thank You Jesus" and I still hold the belief that Chicago is one of the most amazing cities. I love Chicago a lot!

Congratulations to the dancer and her support team... I think we did marvelous and had a nice family retreat time together.

And what has been going on since I wrote last 9 November? Well there was a General Convention where our Diocese elected a new Bishop, I have been to Akron/Cleveland to begin the process of dismantling my parents homestead, I have had Thanksgiving dinner for 7 local family members, began the Supartz injections in my knee, and tried to prepare the yard for winter. No dull moments have passed these hands.

Enjoy the time you have with family. Learn to enjoy one another. You can learn much from making peace. You can learn to stay on task and focus. You can learn to keep your political views to yourself and respect what views others hold because we are all entitled to certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. What is happiness to one may be sheer torture to another - - but we can quietly respect each person and their right to go in that direction.

I can tell you that there will be a certain amount of silence on these pages. My second sweater is on hiatus for a while, my knee needs more shots and the Dentist thinks I need some work done that will lay me up for an evening and I will need a few evenings to forgive him for what he does ... It is Advent season and a time of waiting is upon us...

So respect each other. Stay the course. Be brave. Learn from each other by holding your thoughts and listening longer. There is much to be learned in the silence...

Some days are just like that...

... for no reason I was easily frustrated today.

I felt the day was wasted because I had little to do at work.

I wanted to be home. I wanted to be outside in the beautiful autumn weather.

I had no patience for any form of moderation or compromise. I wanted what I wanted and nothing more or less.

If you know me - this is not how I am.

So I am glad the day is done. I put all the frustration outside in the trash. Left it there on the curb... too much to deal with and let it go...

Tomorrow is another day and I have it all to spend outside. Leaves and gardens to clean. Say good bye to another gardening year... that will be good... Oh Lord I pray...

Sunshine, blue skies and love, L'chei-im!

Pictures of Lake Mead wetland and Red Rock Canyon - very appropriate name if you ask me and a picture of I believe that if it were not a drought there would be water aplenty - but not so much now! Still beautiful! We spent one day driving a 13 mile scenic drive and viewing several overlooks. Then driving to Lake Mead where the signs of no rain are very evident.





Here are the family pictures! My sister Bobbie, her husband Bob and their daughter Kim. John and I in matching Sun Coast sweatshirts and Bling Bling from the casino (small family joke)

And then there is the happy couple. Rob and Heather Novak! The ceremony was very nice. Heather and Rob wrote their own committment vows and you could feel the love flow one to another while they said their promises. Two readings - one from Gibran and the other the lyrics from Roberta Flak's song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" Needless to say the tears were just awash on faces which was OK by me ...

The entire 5 days were beautiful. I have a whole new appreciation for the word ARID. Coming back to reality of winter weather has been a whole other story.

I did get some knitting done while in the air and hubby read two books between NV and OH.

Life continues at the warp speed we left it - but I have a warm space in my heart for the days spent with family laughing and celebrating the new life of Rob and Heather Novak. L'chei-im to life and love and health.

That is my wish for all... L'chei-im!

Moving right along...

In good times and bad - hey this could become a habit!

Did you see the Muppet Movie and have the 8 track tape? We did!

There is a loft ladder installed today... before we fill the basharn with b'sharn stuff I will take some interior shots. Hope this cold snap lets up because... it is way to early to be entertaining temps in the 20's at night and only 40 in the day time... We need that warm day - cool night thing for a few more weeks... noone likes to rake leaves and we sure do not like to rake them wearing mittens and nose warmers :O)

And so is the sweater. Tonight we are both resting!

More progress reported in a few days!

In the meantime keep a good thought!

Keep a warm thought!

Be nice one to another!

Celebrate!

Take care of your self!

Exercise and Laugh!

Almost feel that a 'Love mom' should follow right here! OOOps it did!

They all brought home winners

I try and keep up with things about me.

The Cincinnati Bengals won.

The Denver Broncos are winning at I type (sorry Cleveland).

I think I heard that Notre Dame beat UCLA..

and

The Batavia Cheetah's won the second championship game which means that next weekend they play again - GO Cheetah's!!!!!

I know that the Batavia Cheetah's won because I got a call from a star Cheetah. I went to the first game of the tournament just as they were clearing the field - had the wrong time stored in my memory bank. That was OK. Em decided that she could play Soccer better if she got her hair cut and so she did in the two hours between games. I think it is a genius of a child woman that knows a haircut can change your day! They came back and won the second game in the tournament. Seems they play faster games when it is 40 bbrrrrgrees outside.

Yesterday was a great fall day. John finished trimming the basharn and installing the lofts above the doors while I was at a Steinmart Trade In Trade Up event for Interparish Ministries.

Back of basharn all trimmed out

and here is a close up of the windows all trimmed up

Who'd a thought that such a tiny detail would make such a huge impact!

I also spent some time giving birth to Lori's sweater. Back to work for me - I am against a clock that cannot be stalled. Graduation will come and I promised a sweater for a gift of a year of dedication to school - she did her part and now I must do mine.... I may post only pics for a while as these words seem to slow me down... Stay warm

Slow and Steady will win the Race

You will see two steady things at play here. One is the start of the shoulders for Lori's sweater and the second is the soffit and facia are both complete on the holder of the tools of the trades.

This is making both workers feel good. He that in a few short days will be able to get an inspection and myself that the sweater is indeed started and I think will progress faster than the one I made myself. Learning curve is half the battle.

















The rest of the outside day was spent taking apart planters and getting stuff together for the move into the holder of the trade container.

We cannot agree on a name. BASH, Basharn and a few others I cannot remember. So I will start calling it the holder of the trade tools. It will eventually settle in with its own identity.

I think the soup is hot in the microwave and I want a salad and some tea so I had best go and make these wants a reality...

What a beautiful blessed day outside. Thankyou Jesus.

Friday the thirteenth of October

Whew! That is all I have to say about this week.

Work was WORK.

Life was LIFE.

Nothing let up, everything was at full throttle. There were no minutes of nothing at all.

Generally speaking I have a healthy family. But it seems that the occurance of lumps and bumps has increased over the last few months. I find myself holding my breath a lot while I await the results. Lord knows that cannot be healthy for me. Good thing is that all the lumps and bumps have been Be-nine!

Speaking if being nine - Emily is now 10. A decade old. Whew!

The mud in my life has put two doors on the BASH or basharn. They rise and fall beautifully! So much so that when they are open they virtually disappear!

The fiber part of my life has done the 85 stitch swatch and has one inch of the shoulder saddles finished...4 more inches and the sweater will be born. Pictures to come this weekend.

Tomorrows activities include: view and exercise with the new Cardio Pilates CD; Soccer game; basharn trim work and garden digging or a trip to Waynesville where the Saurkraut Festival is being held. So much to think about so many choices... my love of crowds tells me I am digging in the garden... I do not like crowds at all... I don't even remember when I started disliking them... humph!

I talked to my sister whose son was married in April in a Courtroom. They were sitting at dinner while he was home for a visit and she saw the wedding band and it took her by surprise. We will be together later this month to celebrate his vows and we both admitted to being the slightest bit excited!!

Day is done, gone the sun,

From the hills, from the lake,

From the sky.

All is well, safely rest,

God is nigh.

Saturday, October 7, 2006

I woke up today with the sore throat I went to bed with. I went back to bed! I did not get to see Emily win another game. It took until almost 2:30 before I felt much like doing anything. So I took pictures... see below where mud and fiber meet!

THIS IS THE "BA-SH" SO FAR - IT IS THE MUD PART OF MY LIFE - TODAY WE INSTALLED THE SPRINGS AND THE HANDLE AFTER I TOOK THE PICTURE. Of course the springs are inside and work lovely as does the lock! One more side and we can fill it up - that will be a woo hoo day for sure! WOO HOO!

THESE ARE THE 34 ANNIVERSARY CARDS THAT WERE MY PRESENT FOR MY 34TH ANNIVERSARY AND SEVERAL MADE ME CRY AND I HAVE SEVERAL THAT MADE ME LAUGH AND A FEW THAT MADE ME BLUSH - BUT AFTER ALL THAT IS WHAT

34 YEARS IS ALL ABOUT - CRYING - LAUGHING AND BLUSHING!!

Then there is the fiber part of my life. I sent this picture to Lori and she made it her wallpaper on her computer. It is the swatch that shows what the cables are and how big they are so I know how much space each will take and how many stitches each side and sleeve will need to be. Designing your own sweater is quite the task. Lot of math and lot of counting and lots of prep work... just like anything else it takes time and effort.

I talked to all my daughters and my sister today. One daughter was studying, one was getting ready to run a race, one was doing the Mom thing and my Sister was travelling to see Dad. I gave her directions left over from last weekend!! Finding your way to new places has never been my strong suit and obvioulsy not my sisters either.

I cleaned up some fall leaves and cut down about a million Black-eyed Susans. I venture to say next Spring they will be growing in the crack by the side door... just a hunch.

Laundry beckons as does the bed making exercise. Cold and snotty nose season creates lots of laundry in my house.

GO AND SIT WITH GOD

OFFER BACK WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN

BLESSINGS OVERFLOWING WILL BE YOURS IN RETURN

PEACE TO YOU THIS DAY AND ALL DAYS...

Friday and all is well in my world, or I hope it is...

Good Evening, Many things have happened since the equinox. Mostly Life has gone at supersonic speeds...

• I have been to Cleveland to visit my Dad in the Rehab unit of Rockynol in Akron, Ohio where he is recovering from a broken femur
• I have washed the sweater and now I wait for a day that is in the low 50's for which I am willing to wait
• With the cooler temps the cat has found my lap
• My pansies are growing well and all the rest of the plantings are doing well. I tried to load a picture but not so much success tonight!
• I learned the fastest way to thaw a freezer that is full of ice is to have a fan blow on it and to use a really big towel to absorb the water. I have never in 34 years of housekeeping defrosted a freezer in such short order!
• Tall Stacks Festival is downtown and the entrance gate is across the street from our office, millions of people have come already and millions more this weekend which is suppose to be a beautiful high 60's weekend
• I have been given time to think
• As a family we began letting go of the family home in South Euclid
• Life goes on and continues to have challenges
• There have been night meetings at work which are always painful for me because come dark I either like to be with my husband at home or with my husband out, but I do not like to be out alone at night
• My nephew is getting married in the Mojave Desert at the end of October and plans are finished for the trip
• I found some interesting books about feminine studies and find the reading interesting as all get out. Glad that I have the time to read and understand all the ins and out of the feminine mysteries that lie in a spiritual journey for a woman. I prefer to be a 'crone' as opposed to being called old. Crone signifies to me wisdom from the journey. Wisdom that is often called upon by others... and compassion
• The barn/shed or BASH (as I like to call it) is coming together nicely.
• There are other things on the horizon - things that are not mine to tell but of which I know.
• I have almost finished the 100 stitch swatch for Lori's sweater. There has been a rather long learning curve for this because I chose cables that I liked that reminded me of Lori. That meant just about starting from scratch and reworking all the concepts. That is OK I enjoy the learning.
• Tomorrow maybe I will watch a soccer game or go and get my throat cultured. Somehow I came in contact with some strep throat...

So friends, visit someplace that you can sit and listen to the voice in your heart. Make sure the voice in your heart and the voice in your head agree. Then ever so gently, leave those ideas at the foot of the cross and know that the Lord will take care of all your concerns. She is good at caring for your worries.

Peace to you this night and all nights...