Random Pictures

The title says it all ~ here are some random pictures taken over the last month during our life.

Flowers next to the table where we have lunch in Quincy.

The Thunder Cafe. Interesting name for a gentle, lovely cafe.

View of Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta across Manzanita Lake.

Dean fishing on Manzanita Lake.

Company on a hike the spouses took while the men fished.

A lovely, bright surprise while on a woods wander with Oso.

A view from my living room window one evening last week. 

Magical Moments

I had an email from Dean this morning before I was even out of bed.

We are here in San Diego this morning to get going on our project with (Company). . . . Now it’s up to me to do some magic and get the (Company) team on the right page, growing and thriving. I am all over it. I feel like I am in my element doing these kind of things and doing them in a collaborative setting. 

It is time for him to do some magic. He doesn’t often talk like that. And what will he be doing? Guiding a newly emerging corporation through some business planning to set them on a path of growing and thriving. Does that sound like magic? Well, it is. 

And reflecting on his comment, I realize that we all have the ability to make magic in our lives. Do you bake amazing cakes? Take it from someone whose cakes have been disasters for years ~ that’s magic! We know the theatrical magic beyond the footlights, but what about the work that goes into making that magic or making your car run smoothly or a plane fly safely? Magic. 

This magic is not illusion. This magic is solid work done by people who know how to do the work thereby creating magic for the rest of us whose expertise lies somewhere else. Can you take a house full of 4 kids and a spouse and create order out of the inevitable chaos? You are a magician par excellence. 

Be aware of the way you create magic in your life and give yourself a pat on the back for your way in the world. Whatever you do, there is someone out there who wonders at your magic. And while you are at it, recognize it in others as well. Magic is a blessing to be celebrated. 

The Wisdom of Rubicon Peak

What constitutes a perfect day? I am sure you can think of lots of things you might include in your perfect day. I know I probably would not include yard work in mine and yet today, from the perspective of sunset, just might be the perfect day.

We had goodies from Allison's on the front deck for breakfast. Then we headed to the yard. Dean lined the deck wall with flowers and transplanted the tomatoes into the cold frame. The plants already have several tomatoes on them so we are off to a good start. I raked pine needles off the terraced areas on the wall so the plants there would continue to grow well.

After a morning with plants, we sat on the deck and then lunched there. Dean planted seeds while I read and we brought up a table to the shop so Dean could sand and polish. We followed that with a snack on the hill over-looking Rubicon Peak. While we sat there, I told Dean that in that space, we could solve the problems of the world or ignore them entirely. That was when he said, "The Wisdom of the Rubicon". When we sit together whether on the deck, on the hill, or in the hot tub, we talk or we are silent. We live in a place where sitting can bring wisdom and peace. 

We descended to the deck again for time in the hot tub and then watching the last of the series with Morgan Freeman and the search for God. For a day that did not include steak, ice cream and the beach, it came very close to being perfect. 

Pleased and Proud

For several years, I have been creating picture books for two of my grands of our visits together. They started out as picture books with very little narrative. As the girls have grown and learned to read, the narrative has increased. As new cousins were born in the same town, more pictures were included. This last one was almost divided into chapters as my time with them was spent at different times. The book arrived this morning and the girls started reading immediately. Megan was so excited, she wanted to take it to school and share it there.

What I do know is, this makes me So Happy!! One, that books Apple and I create are enjoyed ~ so much so that Megan asked if I would make one of our trip this time. Two, because the books continue to help with the joy of reading. And three, she wanted to take it to school to share with her friends!!! Such pleasure over something so easy. 

Exercise Evolution

When I moved to Tahoe 15 years ago, I was used to a morning walk routine. A very early morning walk routine as my walking pal and I would meet at the path about 6:30. Moving to Tahoe kept me in that routine as Dean was and is a hiker and we have lots of forest trails behind our house. For a number of years I kept up my morning walk routine.

Then my hip started to hurt and striding out over rocks and fallen branches and even down smoother trails became very painful. As you know, I waited way too long to have an X-ray which told me I needed a hip replacement. That happened 4 1/2 years ago. I went from crutches to snowshoes in 7 weeks thanks to a really fine physical therapist and my own obedience to her instructions. As my prescription for PT was about to end, I commented that I might have to join a gym as I really liked the machines. They had a follow-up program and I started right away. For 4 years, I was at the gym almost every morning at eight o'clock. I still hiked with Dean on weekends but my primary form of exercise had become the gym.

This year we had a bit of financial set back and I chose to stop going to gym for a while to save a bit of monthly money. That was ok. I was assured I could return any time. I snowshoed regularly. Then things got to where I was thinking I could return to gym. One day Dean came home from skiing where he had seen one of the assistants at the PT office and asked if I knew they had closed the after care program. What????

Sure enough. 1) They had gotten very busy. 2) They were under new management. 3) They were thinking of expanding their space. 4) In a staff meeting about two weeks ago, they decided to let go of the follow-up program.

So - here I am closing in on the full circle: morning walk to gym to morning walk. This morning I put on workout clothes immediately and right after breakfast Oso and I hit the trail. Dean will join us next week (today being his last day of skiing). I may not be walking quite as early as I used to. My walking partner is 4-legged instead of two (until Dean joins us). And in the winter, I will have snow shoes on my feet. Otherwise, the routine is a life time routine with just a little break for some gym time. It was fun. I will miss it and I am glad they were there for me when I needed them. Neither do I mind evolving back again.

Just for Fun

These are some left-over pictures from all the others I have used in the blog

from our trip to Temecula. They are just fun if you like looking at grandchildren.

Emily ~

~ and Megan in front of their art wall and all dressed up for shoe shopping.

Two peas in a pod living on the same block.

Hanging with Aunt Mandy.

Any time there is a soccer ball.

Cousins together.

Studying this technique.

I think I can.

Well done!

There's joy in the trying.

Thanks for having fun with us! You get toasted with a chocolate chip cookie!!

Being a Marine - Part 2

I need to follow up on yesterday's blog about sending our grandson to the Marines. This was a kid who cared nothing for school and literally squeaked by to make his high school graduation. School was not his decision. To become a Marine is his decision. No one suggested it to him. No one urged him to do it. By the time he asked his father to go to the recruiting station with him, he already had the appointment and was prepared. He went from squeaking by to making a good enough grade that he was immediately made a private first class and was able to choose avionics for his specialty.

Still, the family teased him a lot about bootcamp: no more sleeping in, no more hair, no more long leisurely meals. All the while, we were able to see his determination. Nothing stirred his belief in himself and in his decision. This is a really good thing and his grandfather and I could see the maturity that had happened over the few months since the last time we had seen him.

The family is gathered. We are all laughing, teasing, even hearing good advice about bootcamp from the one military experienced person in the family. Then I say:

"Okay, Carter. All teasing aside. You get through bootcamp. You graduate. What happens next?"

"Then I go to combat training."

Suddenly the room was silent. For the first time, I think we realized exactly what we were sending Carter to do and be and become.

I would not have chosen this for him or any of my grandchildren. He did choose. Perhaps the first real choice he felt he had in his life. And he will do well. He goes with the support of family and friends. I believe we just may have sent him to a full-fledged career. I can see that happening. At the same time, I will pray for him to be kept safe and wise and for our world to learn to live in peace so that he can have a long and productive life. Bless you, Carter. You go with our love.