The Circle of Life

Watched a coyote early this morning. He (because of size) or maybe she (because of errand) was trotting home with a squirrel in its mouth ~ time to feed the pups protein for breakfast. The coyote was moving at a fast clip - too fast to find and focus the camera. I just watched and enjoyed. Of course it wasn't enjoyable for the squirrel. Still the little ones would eat fresh meat as would mom and dad. And there are still lots of little chipmunks and squirrels racing around our back yard. I continue to amazed at the life that surrounds us. The circle is beautiful and ugly, peaceful and violent, large and small ~ and there is something to be learned from all of it if we stay aware. Even if you live in the middle of a city, be aware of other life forms that continue to claim their space around you. Even your indoor pets have their own mannerisms and ways of being and they can be a joy to watch ~ with blessings

Weather, Weather and More Weather

I have made an intentional effort to blog about things other than the weather for the last month and it hasn't always worked. To be this far into May and have it still cold and rainy and snowy is just too unusual. The coldest May in about the last 10 years. At least the weather records support what I have found to be true having been out here for 10 years.

I am glad I get to stay inside today. A friend and I are going to lunch and I may build a fire and invite her to stay here for a bowl of soup or something. We will see. Meanwhile, the freezing rain or misting snow or something cold and wet keeps falling. Brrrrr. It is a day for dressing in layers again. And . . . summer is on its way!!

Happy Birthday, Margaret!

Today is the birthday of Margaret Wise Brown, author of Goodnight Moon. She also wrote my all time favorite children's book, Wait 'Til the Moon is Full. I still have my childhood copy and read it to my grandchildren. I have also found it once in a while in a bookstore and given it to a child.

It is the story of a little raccoon who wants to go out and play and mom raccoon keeps saying those words, "wait 'til the moon is full." She also relates the size of the moon throughout the month. One simile is perfect - and you have seen this moon - the moon is "as thin as the curve of a raccoon's whisker."

I learned in the article I read this morning that Margaret Wise Brown died when she was only 42. And in that short period of time she wrote nearly 100 books celebrating the gentleness and wonder of children. You brought and continue to bring a lot of joy into the world, Margaret. Happy Birthday!

Proud grandmother

Wow ~ Congratulations to grandson Joshua!!! 2210 out of a possible 2400 on his SATs ~ with a perfect 800 on his reading!! :D :D :D

Interview

I was interviewed this week for a church e-zine. The interview is found at http://www.faithmeetslife.org/ . You do not have to be a member to read it. ~ blessings

Taking Down Walls

There are so many kinds of walls and so many ways to move them. This morning I am remembering a time of moving a very big literal wall.

It was 1973. We had been asked to teach a kindergarten class at the small church we were attending. We visited the space of the class with the pastor. It was a little tiny room at the end of the fellowship hall behind a Huge dark wall. Something about the wall caught my eye and I kept looking at it. I finally said to my husband and the pastor, "I think this wall moves." Sure enough, with some muscle application from all of us, the wall moved, folding in on itself.

Suddenly the little tiny room stretched the length of the hall.

I looked at the men with eyes twinkling and said, "why not?" And so it was. We found room dividers - there were other classes to be held in the hall so we couldn't take up all the space - and marked off a Much Larger Space for our little folks. Now they could play and move and have different activity areas. I wrote to the parents and told them to dress the kids for play as we would be on the floor a lot and outside when weather permitted. It was a Great year! The day I remember best was the day when the Bible story was Zaccheus. We had a little indoor slide. It became the tree. Up the tree went Zaccheus. When Jesus called him to come down, Down the slide the child came, laughing and excited way out of proportion to just playing on the slide. My memory is that we acted out that story most of the morning. The kids loved it and wanted to be Jesus and the crowd just as much as they wanted to be Zaccheus. What fun! And what a wonderful way to learn such an important lesson: God loves us just the way we are!

It was a good year in that wide open space with the big dark walls pushed out of the way. The next year we were asked Not to teach again. We intimidated the other teachers. And for one year we pushed back the walls and celebrated the love of God in a big space for little people.

Tessie is Home

Well, our 4-legged girl is home. She came through the surgery with flying colors even though she had to have 4 teeth pulled instead of just the one. She is still a bit "hung over" from the anesthetic so is moving slowly and sleeping a lot. She'll be back more tomorrow --

All went well. Her heart gave them no problem and just kept up its firm beating. The swelling in her face is going down thanks to the antibiotics. I need to get some probiotics to counteract that. Vet says I can just put a dollop of yogurt on top of her food.

It's good to have our Tessie back even though she is still slow and sleepy.

Tessie's Teeth

Tessie, the 13 year old dog, woke this morning with the left side of her face very swollen. The vet knew exactly what it was - an infected tooth. Because she had already had breakfast, we will take her in in the morning for surgery. *sigh* The vet did a blood panel that will help him understand what needs to be done about anesthetic. They do this surgery a lot and with older dogs - so all will be well. Still "mom" worries - and I am grateful for wise doctors whether they treat humans or animals.

Wonderful Mother's Day

What a delightful day! We are doing Nothing!! Grandson has done homework already and is now reading for fun and we are visiting. Dean has been wandering around and is sitting working on the computer. I have been reading, resting and am having a second cup of tea. It is a lovely day. Later I will unload the dishwasher, reset the table for family dinner tonight, and make like a mother for a while. :) For now, nothing. Lovely, lovely being.

Delightful Evening

What a wonderful day! Dean and grandson cleaned the boat, washed the deck, oiled the deck, accomplishing a Lot! I cleaned and cooked. Tonight friends came to dinner and we visited and saw their pictures of a recent ski trip and visited and shared life together. Grandson was helpful in the kitchen and is a real addition to any conversation. Food was yummy - I say I don't cook any more and when I do, mmmmmm good! So nice. Looking forward to tomorrow - more work from the two guys and family coming to dinner tomorrow night. ~ blessings and a Happy Mother's Day

Birthday dinners I have known

Last night I shared in a birthday dinner for my oldest daughter. We had chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and lima beans. This has been her preferred birthday dinner since she was 13 and I was the one frying the steak. Last night she did it herself and it was Wonderful. She has become quite the cook over the years and everything was Yummy.

My first husband wanted to serve stewed tomatoes on his 13th birthday. His mom was horrified. You can't serve stewed tomatoes to 13 year old boys!! And, she did - because that's what he wanted.

Not sure what there is about 13 and I believe it was her 13th when my other daughter saw a "Three Chocolate Bombe" on the front of Gourmet Magazine and said that's what she wanted for her birthday dessert. Wow. I did it. And I have never done it again. Not only was it 3 chocolate, it took three days to make. Back then I think it was the first time I had ever seen a recipe that called for unsalted butter. (The things we remember).

My uncle's birthday was on Christmas day so on Christmas eve my aunt would have a family gathering with cake and egg nog. The cake had white icing and around the edges and side she placed boxwood leaves. Little tiny green leaves. I've never researched if boxwood leaves are poisonous. Doesn't matter. We all survived and loved the cake.

Cake takes a big place in a birthday celebration of course. I am not a cake baker so my daughters usually had store bought cakes - or a three chocolate bombe. My husband likes carrot cake. Our wedding cake and all his birthday cakes are carrot cakes.

And suddenly I am remembering one other birthday dinner. My 25th. We went to a restaurant we really liked and didn't get to often because of the prices. Saved up, got a sitter, went to celebrate. I have No idea what we ate. What I remember is - I was carded. Asked for my ID when I ordered a drink. I had no ID - I had come out without my purse on purpose. We had been to the restaurant before. I was 25, married 7 years, had a child. I had No Thought that I might be asked for an ID. All I could do was laugh and drink water and iced tea. Back then, that was a Real compliment and I was glad to accept it as my unexpected present at one of the birthday dinners I have known. ~ blessings