the journal :: a beginning

This wonderful journal, by Keri Smith, came to me recently as a gift with the directive to absolutely follow as many of the page's directions as possible. Ha. It sounded easy until I flipped through this seemingly benign little black book. I couldn't possibly abuse the book as instructed to...could I? I was raised to revere books, treat them with kindness and respect, never abuse them. I put it on a shelf, gently slipping it between two craft books, until yesterday.

Again, I carefully read through the pages, wondering where to begin. It seemed to go against the "rules" (if there is such a thing with a book titled "Wreck This Journal") to start on the first page, so I took it with me to the shower (as instructed). A cleansing, a beginning, if you will.

It felt a little naughty, a little bad, to do such a thing as purposely soaking a book. I have to admit I looked at the page "bring this book in the shower with you", closed my eyes, and the little black book and I took the plunge into the falling water. She (yes, the book is a she, and no, I don't have a name for her yet) is now out on the edge of the garden, drying and most likely being invaded by ants.

reflection, part 2

As I was cleaning up, organizing, and reminiscing my way through oodles of photos (you know, like you do...), I came across some sights specific only to the town I grew up in. Those formative years, those years upon which impressions of the world are built. Caution: the county has legal gambling (which for some folks is not such an "oh!" these days) everywhere...in the grocery store, at the petrol station, at the bowling alley...everywhere.


Someone years and years ago killed, stuffed, and mounted a polar bear. It still resides inside this casino, forever on display behind a huge glass box, standing upright to greet everyone who enters. I have never felt good about seeing that regal creature, even as a child, in such a state.

The county also has legal prostitution.


I don't know how to add on to that last statement. These establishments are located over the "tracks" and down by the river. That sounds cliche but it's true.

Growing up with these businesses in town was normal for me. Some have been around since long before my time, some have sprung up since I have left the area. They were just part of the town. Such as small towns are, I'm sure everyone knew everyone else's "business". We knew my friend's uncle spent most evenings in this neighborhood. The first places we went as high school-ers to sell raffles and fund raisers were here. The last places we would tell anyone we went by were here.

fever of summer

Yikes! Summer heat has hit. Knocking at the door of the hundred degree (F.) mark today. With this heat comes the sweetening of foothill peaches and mandarin oranges, the ripening of tomatoes to a deep luscious red, and the making of fresh lemonade.

reflection, part 1

Time doesn't seem to be a constant. I know this to not be true, but there were times during this past school year when minutes seemed like hours, and then hours cruised by like minutes. For sure there were a few valleys as well as the many beautiful peaks. I prefer to savor the peaks, those high points that make everyone's day.

With my trusty "tech support" friend holding my hand through non-Apple quicksand, I (we) created CDs of photos I took over the school year for my little sixth grade fledglings.

signs of summer

Welcome SUMMER! Glad to see you again.


The rope is ready for "pond dropping".


The dock is the perfect spot for dipping feet.


I do believe the fish are hiding amongst the cattails and lilly pads.


Grape jelly is forecast. Just look at those wee grapes!

A perfect start to the summer season. These snapshots are seen daily by my folks. I spent the day moving rocks for my mom, sipping iced green tea, and clicking away with my camera.

yes, and yes

All I can say is "wow"--oh, and YES!

Thank you, Patti Digh.

earth forces

"I am done with great things and big plans, great institutions and big successes. I am for those tiny, invisible, loving human forces that work from individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the world like so many rootlets, or like a capillary oozing water, yet which, if given time, will rend the hardest moments of human pride." ~~William James~~


This Earth Day brings promise and hope. I believe that. Yes, there are cascading events happening around our planet showing us heart-breaking destruction. But I believe there is hope in individuals making change. There is greatness inside us--strength, with attitudes that our cup is "half full".

candy for the senses

Loving this song today as I dance around in the sun beams, dye eggs, and make fresh bread for tomorrow's BBQ. The tequila and lime...they're for the fresh scallop ceviche (we are in charge of appetizers and bread).

I want this music to play when I open and write in my journal! Be still my heart!

This video puts the biggest grin on my face. Oh, the creativity!


These doves make the most wonderful purring/cooing sound. They, too, are enjoying the return of the sun.

spring is leaking

Spring break began so beautifully the first part of the week with symphonies of bird calls early in the morning, sun and warmth throughout the day. Inside duties were ignored. Summer "equipment" such as the hammock, air chairs, and sun tea were set out. Potted plants that didn't make it through the rigorous winter were dumped. It was good--no, it was grand. I was warned that I was being a wee bit premature in setting out summer lounging furniture, but I had plans, you see, visions really, that included sun, books, and abandonment of time.

Then the rain began. Heavy rain at first, which I thought was fine--it was needed. It washed the dust off the leaves of the palms, watered the sprouting bulbs, knocked off the last leaves of the oak tree which diligently holds tight the previous year's leaves through the winter. But the rain didn't stop. It's been followed by a constant drip and drizzle every day, all week.


The hammock...soaked. The air chairs...filling with water. The sun tea...not as tasty when one is curled up in a quilt instead of stretched and basking in the warmth of a bright, blue-sky day.


Still, I am determined to make the most of this spring break, damp or dry. I am working on those much-needed spring deep cleaning projects inside. Much like our cat catching an opportunity to drink from the dripping faucet, my cup is half full of possibilities.

The Sun

by Mary Oliver

Have you ever seen

anything

in your life

more wonderful

than the way the sun

every evening,

relaxed and easy,

floats toward the horizon

and into the clouds or the hills,

or the rumpled sea,

and is gone--

and how it slides again

out of the blackness,

every morning,

on the other side of the world,

like a red flower

streaming upward on its heavenly oils,

say, on a morning in early summer,

at its perfect imperial distance--

and have you ever felt for anything

such wild love--

do you think there is anywhere, in any language,

a word billowing enough

for the pleasure

that fills you,

as the sun

reaches out,

as it warms you

as you stand there,

empty-handed--

or have you too

turned from this world--

or have you too

gone crazy

for power,

for things?

Love this roof!

March, which for some is a very long month before spring shows up at their doorstep, is sauntering out with its head held high, sun shining on its back. Spring festivities are just around the corner.

last of the winter harvest

With only one week of spring under our belts, I'm listening to the weather reports of snow in Colorado as well as other parts of the country. Here, it's been spring for several weeks (sorry to you folks out there shoveling snow and scraping ice). Some of the trees are done with their pink and white blossoms and have moved through the color palette onto the bright green of new leaves.

We've harvested the last of the winter crops, turned the soil, checked the drip system, and are ready to plant for the summer. I can hardly wait...I am so tired of tasteless tomatoes.

joyous month of march

I'm still here, quite busy with lesson plans, rain-soaked days, and those little things that seem to pile up when one is looking the other way.

March is one of my favorite months.  Spring is just ahead, the sun has magically decided to visit longer, and petals carpet the ground from blooming trees.  I am such a geek that I celebrate "pi" day each year, March 14...ok, for those un-math folks that's "3.14--pi--having to do with the circumference of a circle--C=(pi)xd".  Pi Day:  surrounded by all things circle, which usually means food (doesn't it always come down to food?)...pizza, pot pies, fruit pies, cookies.

This year, something extra appeared on the calendar for the month.  On the third of March, for the year 2009, we had the great opportunity to celebrate "Square Root Day".  This amazing event only happens nine times every one hundred years, where the day of the month and the month are the square root of the last two digits of the year.  My classroom celebrated by eating root vegetables and drinking root beer.  So sweet and so fun!

to service

It seems to have been such a long time since we could stand with pride and say we are Americans. Today we will see a new, fresh, young, plugged-in president sworn into office who has already made leaps and bounds of progress even before this historical day.

I am filled with such a sense of hope and excitement.

Our soon-to-be-president {yes!} is asking citizens to commit to helping each other and our communities as one nation--a national call to service. Go here to learn more.

Need ideas to help? Go here for encouragement and more hope. How about "b" something?

Become a "Born Again American."

My cup is half full, not half empty.

the wall, she is gone

"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls." ~~Joseph Campbell~~

Architects, in their quest for a balance between design and function, are willing to try unusual features in homes. We had (yes, I am so excited: h.a.d.--past tense) a wall which separated two areas of our home and housed the fireplace. It has always felt like it blocked the flow and energy and light in the house. It didn't quite go to the ceiling (it was a wall, it was not a wall), included a recess for a television (which we used to store baskets and pottery), and partially blocked the ingress/egress of the door to the back patio (I ask you, who designs a wall to partially block another doorway?).

It's gone {let's hear a squeal and do a little happy dance}. The rooms are now a single, greater room with space to breathe and visit and move. This very much delights me. The light from the windows aren't impeded by the wall anymore. Everything feels brighter and cheery.

We had no need for the fire place. We live in a climate where it does, on occasion, lightly frost, but truly our winters are mild. The chimney hole will become a sky light this coming summer. More natural light!

I would like to thank my husband for continuing to putt up with me and my ideas of change. "This is just a small wall, can we take it down? What if we push out the side of the house a few feet on the west side? See this space here, which we really don't use to its best potential--what if we take off the roof of the garage, use this space for a staircase, and add on another bedroom, bathroom, exercise room, and gathering room up there. It's "do-able", isn't it? Let's build a walled-in terrace, our own little grotto." These proposals are but a few of the many I have thought up.

I would also like to thank our daughter, for being such a good worker and great sport about her nutty mother. And then there's the great big thank you to her for having strong bones and not breaking any of these said strong bones when the wall fell on her (oh, yes it did!)--actually it somewhat bounced on her several times as gravity pulled it down, then it pinned her leg as a final assault. Just to make it clear, it wasn't the dry wall that fell on her...it was the massive amount of wood framing. She has bruises--big bruises--and scrapes. She's a red-head--she rarely bruises. Sorry daughter, for sending you back to your home with lumps and bumps, back to the barrister world of the courtroom, skirts, and heels with bruises.

boxing day...day of goodwill

I rather love the origins of "boxing day", and I see that South Africa continues that genuine spirit as "day of goodwill" where gifts are given to those less fortunate in society. I like that. Our home is blessed with gifts, electricity, warmth, a refrigerator and pantry of food, friends, relatives, and love. Sadly not everyone can claim this to be the case.

I have added a button to the sidebar for Free Rice. This is a small, but I believe sensational, way to help others through the UN World Food Program. Oh, and a bonus: you can help yourself through extending your knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, geography, math, language learning, chemistry, and art. We have such a rich language and so little of it is used. I blame video games and television (but I digress).

Go to Free Rice. Play. Have the kids play. Watch your bowl of rice multiply.