Whatever my blogging buddies are doing this Labor Day Weekend, I wish for loads of love and making more good memories for all of you.
Happy Labor Day.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Laboring Day
What I am doing over this weekend is so appropriate for this holiday. I am laboring! I am carting small things over to the little white house. I was presented the keys on Wednesday. I plan on taking things over, empty boxes and bags, pack a little more and take more loads. Since it is across one back yard into another back yard, diagonally through each yard, it isn't very far from house to house. Monday and Tuesday I have help and people with trucks, giving up their holiday mornings to help me.
Whatever my blogging buddies are doing this Labor Day Weekend, I wish for loads of love and making more good memories for all of you.
Happy Labor Day.
Whatever my blogging buddies are doing this Labor Day Weekend, I wish for loads of love and making more good memories for all of you.
Happy Labor Day.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Favorite Time Of Day
Awake. Still dark. Sun won't be up for another hour. Make coffee and check emails then sit back with cup of coffee and watch the changes in the sky. It is so peaceful, this is a wonderful time of day. Happy to wake up, looking forward to the adventures that will be presented during the day, grateful for the many dear people in my life, the low stress level, the quiet time to ponder things in general, aware of the inner growth in the past few years and the joy of anticipation for the what is in the future. Looking out the window, feeling content, feeling alive. Priceless.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Tee Pee Capital
This article caught my attention.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/13/sport/inside-the-tee-pee-capital/index.html?hpt=tr_c2
and
http://visitmt.com/listing/categories_NET/MoreInfo.aspx?IDRRecordID=8832
My brother and sister-in-law and two of their kids live in Montana.
He and I have American Indian ancestry, maybe only 1/32, probably lots of Americans have that or more. We are French, German, and that little bit American Indian. When we were young children playing with schoolmates at the Catholic school, my brother would shout to me to "kick in my Indian power" when it was my turn to push the merry go round full of kids. It is a memory that has forever stayed with me and taught me to be proud of that connection, to my big brother and to our ancestors. When we played cowboys and Indians with friends, he and I would volunteer to be the Indians because we were drawn to the Indian prayers and how they incorporated nature into their daily lives. To this day, I greet the sun each morning and thank mother earth for providing abundantly.
One of the priorities for me now is for my brother and his family and I to spend time at the Crow Fair Rodeo in Montana. Maybe even as soon as next year. Why put off...... You never know.....
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/13/sport/inside-the-tee-pee-capital/index.html?hpt=tr_c2
and
http://visitmt.com/listing/categories_NET/MoreInfo.aspx?IDRRecordID=8832
My brother and sister-in-law and two of their kids live in Montana.
He and I have American Indian ancestry, maybe only 1/32, probably lots of Americans have that or more. We are French, German, and that little bit American Indian. When we were young children playing with schoolmates at the Catholic school, my brother would shout to me to "kick in my Indian power" when it was my turn to push the merry go round full of kids. It is a memory that has forever stayed with me and taught me to be proud of that connection, to my big brother and to our ancestors. When we played cowboys and Indians with friends, he and I would volunteer to be the Indians because we were drawn to the Indian prayers and how they incorporated nature into their daily lives. To this day, I greet the sun each morning and thank mother earth for providing abundantly.
One of the priorities for me now is for my brother and his family and I to spend time at the Crow Fair Rodeo in Montana. Maybe even as soon as next year. Why put off...... You never know.....
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Happy Birthday, Panama Canal
August 15, 1914 the Panama Canal officially opened. Plans were first discussed in the 16th century. Work began in 1881. Many lives were lost during construction, most due to disease and on-site accidents.
Now Nicaragua and a Hong Kong group are planning a larger canal that would allow ships too large for the Panama Canal.
Now Nicaragua and a Hong Kong group are planning a larger canal that would allow ships too large for the Panama Canal.
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Too Late Now
The little house I used to live in is around the corner from where I live now. Someone bought the little house last year and proceeded to make improvements. An addition to the garage. Window frames in the garage were replaced. No sloppy work, high quality and the best ideas I wouldn't have thought of when I lived there. It makes a difference that I was only renting, and there were two renters there since I left the place, and then it sold and the new resident was the owner. But still, it was amazing to watch the transformation of the little house. Every day I drove or walked by at least twice, sometimes many trips past the house to go to the senior center or the library or downtown. I found myself slowing down and taking notice of the current project, watching the man taking measurements, building, even putting in sidewalks. Since I myself had spent two years there painting every room inside the place and also the trim on the house as well as entire outside of the detached garage and planting and transplanting trees and plants around the property, I was particularly interested in the improvements.
Instead of stopping and introducing myself to the gentleman, I watched and enjoyed seeing the progress, and figured I would stop sometime "soon" to tell him how much it meant to the whole neighborhood to see how he was improving the property and to tell him I used to live there.
Then a friend of mine called me to tell me the man's son found the man in the back yard. He had died doing what he loved doing. He was 94 years old. That was a surprise to me, I thought he was in his seventies. His vigor and strength was of a much younger man. And he completed each task and moved on to the next one. Quickly.
The son was at the house this week, he lives a block from there and I didn't know him or his wife, but this time I stopped and introduced myself, told him I used to live there and I was the one who painted the trim yellow and how much I enjoyed watching his dad working to improve the little house and how I even wanted to ask his dad to look at the place I am in now and tell me if he had some ideas for improving this place. The son and I had a nice talk about his dad, a man I never met but had wanted to meet. That won't happen now, but that man put some joy in my life without knowing it. Thank you, sir.
Instead of stopping and introducing myself to the gentleman, I watched and enjoyed seeing the progress, and figured I would stop sometime "soon" to tell him how much it meant to the whole neighborhood to see how he was improving the property and to tell him I used to live there.
Then a friend of mine called me to tell me the man's son found the man in the back yard. He had died doing what he loved doing. He was 94 years old. That was a surprise to me, I thought he was in his seventies. His vigor and strength was of a much younger man. And he completed each task and moved on to the next one. Quickly.
The son was at the house this week, he lives a block from there and I didn't know him or his wife, but this time I stopped and introduced myself, told him I used to live there and I was the one who painted the trim yellow and how much I enjoyed watching his dad working to improve the little house and how I even wanted to ask his dad to look at the place I am in now and tell me if he had some ideas for improving this place. The son and I had a nice talk about his dad, a man I never met but had wanted to meet. That won't happen now, but that man put some joy in my life without knowing it. Thank you, sir.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
My First Grandchild
My first grandchild was born end of April, then six days later my second grandchild was born. My daughters delivered children 6 days apart. Twenty-two years ago.
My grandson and I have been enjoying phone conversations and texting this year. The first time my grandson said he wanted to come out here to have some time with me, it took a while to digest. My first reaction was to tell him that there isn't anything for him to do out here, and that I am only around older people, that he would bored here.
Each time the subject was brought up, I realized that where I live, what I do, who I see in my everyday life is not the important thing, my grandson wants to come to spend some time with me in person. Duh.
My apartment is not put back together and there is still work to be done here; however, my cat Lola and I are comfortable and living our normal life. It would be so sweet and loving to have time with my dear grandson. I left California over six years ago, so that is how long since I have been with him.
I find myself looking forward to seeing him and being around him, the grownup young man he is now. Soon.
My grandson and I have been enjoying phone conversations and texting this year. The first time my grandson said he wanted to come out here to have some time with me, it took a while to digest. My first reaction was to tell him that there isn't anything for him to do out here, and that I am only around older people, that he would bored here.
Each time the subject was brought up, I realized that where I live, what I do, who I see in my everyday life is not the important thing, my grandson wants to come to spend some time with me in person. Duh.
My apartment is not put back together and there is still work to be done here; however, my cat Lola and I are comfortable and living our normal life. It would be so sweet and loving to have time with my dear grandson. I left California over six years ago, so that is how long since I have been with him.
I find myself looking forward to seeing him and being around him, the grownup young man he is now. Soon.
Friday, August 1, 2014
The Power Of A Rose
My friend Jean carried a rose into the senior center today. She suggested that the winner of the Mexican Train Dominoes would take the rose home. The rose is a soft peach color, slightly darker in the center, fading to the outside petals. The scent was captivating. Jean sat to my left, the rose sitting prettily in a small plastic used water bottle. It might as well have been a crystal vase for how much it affected each of us. It was the first time any one of us had brought something to share at the weekly dominoes game.
Low score is how you win in this game, and we were all hoping to end up low score. We played for over two hours, laughing and sharing, and visiting like we always do, and passing around the plastic bottle so we could all enjoy the tantalizing smell of home grown rose. I kept thinking how lucky Jean is to have these absolutely lovely flowers to drink in visually and cut occasionally to bring into her home. (Insert big sigh.)
When we began putting tiles away and clearing the table, I was the one with the low score. Being the winner is not the usual outcome for me when we play dominoes. But winning the game was not the best part anyway. Winning the rose was what put the sparkle in my eyes. I haven't had a fresh flower in my place since my birthday in February. That isn't a terribly long time. But having this rose within reach has brought an abundance of joy into my life. I had no idea how much I would like having a live flower to enjoy again. I don't need a large bouquet, a single rose has fulfilled my yearning, and today is only the first day. Imagine, I get to enjoy this lovely rose for many more days. I am blessed.
Low score is how you win in this game, and we were all hoping to end up low score. We played for over two hours, laughing and sharing, and visiting like we always do, and passing around the plastic bottle so we could all enjoy the tantalizing smell of home grown rose. I kept thinking how lucky Jean is to have these absolutely lovely flowers to drink in visually and cut occasionally to bring into her home. (Insert big sigh.)
When we began putting tiles away and clearing the table, I was the one with the low score. Being the winner is not the usual outcome for me when we play dominoes. But winning the game was not the best part anyway. Winning the rose was what put the sparkle in my eyes. I haven't had a fresh flower in my place since my birthday in February. That isn't a terribly long time. But having this rose within reach has brought an abundance of joy into my life. I had no idea how much I would like having a live flower to enjoy again. I don't need a large bouquet, a single rose has fulfilled my yearning, and today is only the first day. Imagine, I get to enjoy this lovely rose for many more days. I am blessed.
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