JUNE makes me think of lingering in the garden of a sweet cottage, much like the one I fell in love with when we traveled last month.
Yet, we live in a lovely home with gardens surrounding it's steep terrain.
I find tranquility simply sitting and watching the Oriels flitting from one cattail to the next.
Our resident bunny plays with me as I chase it for just a few feet.
It just stares at me until I go sit down . . . then it scampers away.
It only eats Basil so I grow this in pots on the screened porch.
Ahhhhh, June.
Such hope for a splendid summer.
June 1 Cottage Garden
June is the month that everything blooms HUGE and glorious.
Roses are perfect, Aliums still hold their color, blue salvia mixes well with the bright red 'pops' of color.
The variegated hosta are immense and so varied in size and shape.
Purple onion flowers pop through my Rose bushes.
The cacophony of genre, color, size and shape seems as random as a cottage garden.I love it.
Harsh winds and drenching rain finished off my peonies.
When I cut back I'll see delicate yellow what-ever-they-are gleaming in a warmer day's sun.
It's all good.
Because, I'll always love my 'cottage garden.'
June 2 Garage Sale Paradise
Of course I did not take pictures.
Who wants pictures of junque?
One man's trash is another man's treasures . . . but treasures abound.
Every year our little community has a garage sale.
It's not just any ol' sale.
We all get involved in some way.
If we don't open our garages so the world can buy our 'stuff' we help in other ways.
The massive bake sale at the community center brings in plenty of money for our local food bank.
The hot dog stand has the best bratwurst in the world at such a good price that the 'brats' are sold out by 10am some years.
This year they got all the way to the end . . . noon . . . before they ran out.
And then some hand out leaflets at the entrances to let seekers know where to go for really good deals.
Want a snow blower, a brand new Kitchen-aid mixer, state-of-the-art iron or a sewing machine?
From men's tools to women's gadgets.
Books galore, most of which should be donated to the local library or recycled.
Some sellers have prices too low and are sold out in the first hour.
Some sellers have serious 'issues' and cannot seem to throw what should never have been offered for sale in the first place.
Last year Good Will said, "Enough."
They'd filled a HUGE truck and there was still some left over.
Half they would end up throwing out anyway.
Now we are each responsible for disposing (or keeping) what we don't sell.
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| Amish came by the droves. The buggy zipped by too fast for a good shot. |
That said, I never cease to be amazed at the 'finds.'
I don't need one more thing but I did manage to find some useful frames for pictures, a pair of new Crocs and Shaker baskets for a song. . . she wanted to give them to me free!
Half my house is filled with what others might see as gently used or over 100 years old.
Besides finding bargains, this is my day to visit and chat with as many neighbors as possible.
It took me four hours to get around the one mile circle and a couple in-between streets.
Who cares about bargains . . . it's always a great time to connect and converse with those I love and many I've never met before.
FUN!
June 3 Corpus Christi
I'm sure you've heard of this day.
Although I am not Catholic, I am fascinated by the all-day parades endless festivities all over the world.
What is so special about this day?
It's about getting real with our personal relationship with God through his son, Jesus Christ.
We ingest words and names and slogans and this jargon that few outside of the Christian world understand.
Yet, do we understand?
Do we truly understand why the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, as well as soul and divinity, is so celebrated?
Do we truly understand what it means to receive HOLY Eucharist?
Holy Thanksgiving.
Eucharist means thanksgiving.
We celebrate and give THANKS for what God has promised all the who, by faith, say YES and follow God through his Son, Jesus, the final sacrifice to end all other sacrifices.
It's the blood shed on the cross that is the final sacrifice for all who believe.
No more sin offerings need to be made to cover man's sin because the body of Jesus was pummeled and shamed and pierced with huge nails and placed on a piece of wood to die.
Jesus' blood was shed, poured out, for us.
Jesus said in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 14, as he took the bread and the cup of wine at his last Passover, "This is my body . . . this is my blood . . . eat . . . drink . . . in remembrance of me."
The power of God's presence through the Holy Spirit is called into the bread and wine in 'liturgical' churches.
This means the priest is following the words of Jesus in the Gospel to eat the bread and drink the wine as the body and blood of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is called upon to become real, as Jesus is real, as the Father is real . . . as all are "the real presence of God" that we consume . . . that we embrace fully . . . that ignites the Holy Spirit planted in our souls . . . to remain fully connected, fully 'one' with God.
Corpus Christi . . . a reminder of God's empowering Presence: body, blood, soul, divinity, in our lives.
June 4 The Quilt
I love quilts.
We visit our local quilt shop whenever possible.
Amazingly, hubby is more interested in them than I am.
He talks to the quilter (each day a different one) and has even been invited to provide a stitch or two.
I usually wander around and drink in the more modern forms of quilting . . . landscapes or colorful geometric designs.
Last summer, after we'd 'laid to rest' my father (who died at 102) I surprised myself by being moody and quite lethargic.
I'd linger in the garden but accomplish little.
I'd sit at my computer and read books.
I think I was processing the fact that my siblings and I are now the 'elder' generation.
So hubby decided we needed a trip to the quilt shop.
A magnificent quilt, in only black and white, caught my eye.
I most politely did not take a picture but the memory still bobs in my head.
I'm not into black and white but there is a drama that plays out with such stark contrasts of light and absence of light.
I received a small sum from an insurance policy dad had divided among us.
A quilt, purchased with this extra money, might be a wonderful way to remember a 'time gone by' . . . another generation . . . another era.
And so, with help from one of the associates, we collaborated on fabrics.
Not so easy.
The quilters love flowers of all kinds.
I wanted none.
Quilters like bright colors . . . Amish wear very bright blues and greens and pinks with black. . . even the men.
I wanted hazy, grayzee, blue in modern fabrics.
Carole was an expert at listening and hunting . . . and patience.
After about a month we had the fabric.
In fact, my final personal inspection of fabric was one day before we left for the winter months.
What a surprise to know it was finished in a mere three months!
I was told I would have to wait as much as a year, which was fine by me.
The BEST part: It's called a "Bible Quilt" with the Tree of life in the center.
Each small square represents a bible story.
Since there are more stories (and squares) beyond my quilt, my next project is to find the 'stories' in our quilt.
That's for later.
Now is the time to simply ENJOY!
June 5 Conference Call
I'm not into 'tech' but I use it and try to take advantage of the
Smart phones are the greatest piece of technology I've encountered.
If my water bottle had not burst and filled the bottom of my purse I'd still have my flip-phone.
I heard the 'sizzle' immediately as my phone was 'frying' into nothing.
That was two years ago.
Now my email, phone directory, LIFE seems to be on my little phone.
I walk to the beach and 'click, click, click' when I see sand castles or Egrits or a fisherman wading into the sea.
Today I'm joining other board members for a conference call.
All I do is call one number and then call another.
Voila.
Six or so can talk together at one time!
The ability to hammer out concerns or gain full agreement on a new resident rule when we are all scattered for the summer is something new for most elder-residents.
It takes a little practice to keep up with technology.
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| Sharing for hours at her 100th birthday! |
Yet, I think of my aunt who died last year at the age of 104.
She was our 'super-techie' who stayed up to day, worked on two computers (two operating systems in fact) at a time . . . every day!
She will forever motivate me to step into the challenge.
Use technology to meet my needs and then some.
Hmmmm, what if Jesus had a Smart phone?
Perhaps God expects us to use our 'smart phones' to do exactly what Jesus did . . . share the good news of God's love and mercy to as many people as possible.
With or without conference calls, perhaps this blog is a tiny step in that direction.
June 6 Sashiko
Actually, it began with poor Japanese farmers who sewed, by hand, simple jackets called "Boros".
In order to add strength to the denim-like fabric, they used a simple stitch much like this: - - - - - - - - -
Lines, squares, half-circles and triangles.
I'm fascinated.
I'd love to sew a Boro by hand using these stitches but I will first play with the very special thread and needle on varied fabrics.
It's just one more creative extension for my love of textiles and unique stitching.
Today this simple stitching is being replicated on modern "Boros" such as this one to the right that can be found on Pinterest.
I might begin with a little, square coin purse.
Thought I'd share this idea with whomever might visit this blog.
I nice distraction from all that is happening in the world.
Enjoy!
June 7 The Visit
It's always fun to have company.
Only one problem.
I'm good at salads but that's about it.
Hubby had a great idea.
Get a fresh, home made, shortcake from our Amish woman, pick up some fresh picked strawberries from our farmer, and then run to the supermarket to pick up a chicken just as it is finished roasting at the store.
Salad with everything, chicken and strawberry shortcake should fill us for a few hours of sightseeing.
It worked.
The guys did some handy-work while we 'gals' worked with the food.
All for a simple meal.
Then the fun began.
We enjoyed our favorite drive through Amish farms as we drove to Intercourse, PA.
Five roads come together as "all courses intersect at one point = intercourse."They want to return since we only covered half the shops.
The best was watching the Amish women 'can' Chow-Chow.
I could watch for hours.
They 'can' over 3,000 jars each day . . . whatever the item.
Judging from the crowds, almost as may jars of the hundreds of items they offer fly out the door daily.
FUN!
June 8 Sad loss
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| My cousin and her brother, both now deceased. |
She was ten years older than me but I am not 'that' old.
Huge surprise.
In the past three years our family has dwindled by the droves.
My cousin's husband died and my brother died of cancer.
Then my 104 yr. old aunt and my 102 year old dad within months of each other.
Now I receive news that my Aunt's daughter died (about a year after she buried her 104 yr. old mom)!
Now that leaves the three 'kids' . . . children of my cousin . . . to become matriarchs and patriarch of the family.
In three years . . . their dad dies . . . then their grandmother who lived right with them dies . . . then two of their uncles die . . . and
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| Our dad, center, with his sisters. On his right is the grandmother of the three 'kids.' |
Fortunately, the 'kids' have pretty-much grown children . . . all in high school by now and others in college.
Yet, that is too early to loose them.
Now the three 'kids',with their clan that totals eleven, are IT.
My heart goes out to them so much.
They are all on the other coast and are very close and all are very strong in their Christian faith.
The churches they go to will surround them with love and encouragement.
It's just hard.
June 9 More Sad News
Charles Krauthammer gave the world some very sad news yesterday.
I am totally his groupie.
Not because I agree with what he says, which I do.
But because he can take any issue, step back from it, and look at both sides.
He can look at all the political 'spin' . . . all the crazy bloviators, and cut through their nonsense.
As a devout Jew who actually does not work on holy days, no matter what is going on, he can step back and observe a situation that demeans Jews and look at the entire scenario objectively.
He loves baseball.
He drives fast . . . even though the only part of his body that is not paralyzed is his shoulders and a few fingers.
When he had 'a simple surgery' last August, I knew nothing could be simple.
Little did any of us know that he has been struggling for his life since then because of one complication after another.
A cancerous tumor was removed from his abdomen at that time.
Yesterday he told the world that, although he has been cancer-free after the surgery, the big "C" recently returned with a vengeance.
Doctors say he has only a couple weeks to live.
Usually that means . . . days.
The whole world seems to be praying for him . . . praying for a miracle.
He is the 'glue' that makes all challenging discussions palatable.
He is the husband of an incredible woman, Sophie: an artist and lawyer.
He is the father of Daniel, now graduated from college.
With such a though-filled father I bet Daniel is doing quite well becoming who he was raised to be.
Charles has given us time to reflect, grieve his absence from his weekly editorial (I've missed it since August!) and ponder how each of us can make our own lives matter . . . doing what we are called to do . . . with love, with humility, with regard for others, with an open heart, with a heart set on God's way.
Below are some words Charles has shared with the world over the past few decades.
May your heart embrace them as we pray for the life of a most loved commentator, writer, husband, dad that I have ever known.
HIS PARALYSIS
“All it means is whatever I do is a little bit harder and probably a little bit slower. And that's basically it. Everybody has their cross to bear-- everybody.
I made a promise to myself on day one [after my injury]. I was not going to allow it to alter my life.
It's very easy to be characterized by the externalities in your life. I dislike people focusing on it. I made a vow when I was injured that it would never be what would characterize my life. I don't want it to be the first line of my obituary. If it is, that will be a failure.”
GO WHERE THE EVIDENCE TAKES YOU.
“I was a Great Society liberal. I thought we ought to help the poor, we ought to give them all the money we can. And then, the evidence started to pour in. The evidence of how these grand programs, the poverty programs, the welfare programs--everything was making things worse.
I didn't have a dog in that fight. I was willing to go where the evidence led. As a doctor, I'd been trained in empirical evidence. If the treatment is killing your patients, you stop the treatment.”
FAITH
“Faith is something that one has or doesn't have; one doesn't construct it. The one thing I do believe is that of all the possible views of God, atheism is the least plausible. The idea that there's no meaning or purpose or origin--that the Universe is as it always was, is to me entirely implausible for reasons of physics, apart from faith. Because if you reason back to first causes, and if you’re an atheist, you get to a logical contradiction.”
As my heart weeps, I'm praying for God's love and grace to envelope Charles and his family.
Sigh . . .
June 10 Adam and Eve
I've been thinking of 'family' lately.
We've been communicating regarding another family member who just died.
"Family" is a unique term.
We belong to many families or collective groups who might have something in common.
I not only belong to a family with siblings and parents and grandparents etc. but I also belong to the family of God.
Millions can make that same claim.
Today, as I share with our tiny family of God at a small, country church, I think of our roots . . . roots that go back to God's creation.
Adam and Eve, as we know them through the book of Genesis, were the original patriarchs of the family of God.
They did their best to be who they were created to be but, because God created them with the ability to choose to remain focused on God . . . or "not" . . . they, for a millisecond in the scheme of things, chose "not."
For one millisecond they made a choice that they knew went against God's explicit wishes.
God's eternal love remained with them but, because he loved them and wanted them to seek him in all things, created some difficult parameters for Adam and Eve to continue life outside the Garden of Eden.
After all, God promised to all those who make the choice to seek, to know, to invite his presence into our lives . .. that he will never leave us nor forsake us.
God's grace is always there for us.
Too often, we only seek God's grace when we are suffering or have to make a detour or are in the midst of challenges.
Adam and Eve began life with freedom of choice.
We continue to have that same freedom.
Do we choose God's way . . . or not. . . God's Grace. . . or not?
Something to think about.
June 11 HAPPY Anniversary!!
I can't believe we've been married so long.
It's not disbelief in the marriage.
Thirty years!
In the blink of the eye!
What has been jammed into those thirty years that seems like days?
Life. . . Change . . . Adventures . . . Challenges . . . Serendipity . . . FUN . . . Bonding . . . Be-ing.
People, places and even things seem to have consumed this tiny bit of space/ time.
Our journey is strong as we both have become one . . . as we both have bonded strongly to God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit while sharing a mighty raft trip through the rapids of life.Some parts of this journey have been smooth and other parts have caused us to cling together so we would not drown in
I marvel that we were married on the feast day of St. Barnabas, the encourager.
I was born at St. Barnabas Hospital and, because of a most encouraging staff, mom and I survived a traumatic birth.
St. Barnabas has been the encourager for hubby and me as we continue to dive into new adventures, embrace stories shared by friends and continue on our life-path together.
Our Anniversary is a time to remember those special moments.
And so we did . . . with friends.We shared a meal and stories and the wonders of our lives, so very different and yet so 'one' as we each, as couples, continue on our life-path.
A lovely day . . . Thank you Barnabas, for your story encouragement we will always carry with us.
June 12 Sunshine!
I am spoiled.
We spent six months enjoying balmy days with loads of sunshine.The few cloudy days were a relief from the 'perfect' days.
After being 'north' for a month, I am truly appreciative for a sunny day.
What a simple delight.
Sun!
The complexities of life, surrounded by very sick and dying friends and family members, I should focus on more lofty
Yet, nothing beats a beautiful, balmy, sunny day.
Puttering in the yard, fixing outside spaces, creating 'beauty' spots around our small lot makes for a delight-filled day.
Lately, a sunny day once in awhile is all I need to be very content.
Nice!
June 13 Friends
I felt like I was a fly on the wall.
I simply listened.
I have not spent much time with two dear friends in a year.
It was nice to listen to all the 'news.'At least a dozen in the neighborhood have moved or are about to move.
It's an aging community and many who have lived here several years are taking the next step in housing.
The options in our area are too numerous to count.
Therefore, conversation focused mainly on where each has moved, how it is to live there and what options we three might take when it's our turn.
I'm realizing that our moments are precious.
Enjoying conversation with friends over a simple meal is a treasure.
We are making memories together, not as much by our conversation but simply by enjoying each other's company.
Friends.
Lovely.
Mary Englebrite's illustration (above) depicts my whimsy life.
June 14 FLAG DAY!
We receive a major U.S. newspaper.
You'd think there would at least be a tiny blurb about Flag Day on the bottom of the front page.
Yet, buried in the second section, bottom half, was one paragraph.
Honoring our country has been a challenge lately.
Why?
Because we have forgotten HONOR.
Just plain honoring one another,
honoring our continuously-fought-for freedom to speak our mind,
honoring the great variety of religions in our country, honoring laws that people voted for . . . perhaps centuries ago . . . but . . .
honoring our continuously-fought-for freedom to speak our mind,
honoring the great variety of religions in our country, honoring laws that people voted for . . . perhaps centuries ago . . . but . . .
. . . This is One nation, under God . . . led by a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Why is it so hard to say "Thank you," for being part of this nation?
The best way to say "Thank you" is to fly the flag if at all possible.
In fact, flying the flag reminds me that God is still hovering over, working through and residing in souls who live in this fair land.
God still protects us from absolute destruction . . . which we are doing to ourselves by the choices we make.
God is still reminding us of the incredible abundance we, as a nation, have at our fingertips.
Religious groups throughout this nation provide for the marginalized and destitute within their capabilities.
In fact, if it were not for those millions of individuals who reach out to those with far less, no one would be able to cover the taxes that local and national governing bodies would exact from us to do the same.
We are One Nation, Under God, Indivisible . . .
with LIBERTY AND JUSTICE for all.
Let's act on that truth.
Let's honor our wonder-filled nation.
Let's fly the U.S. flag whenever possible.
"Grace" . . . my favorite word.
Yet, so very important if we are to continue to exist together.
I've immersed myself in stories and documentaries and insights that help me to understand the inner workings of GRACE.
I know of God's grace and feel that, once learned by humanity, we can show grace toward one another.
Yet, God is perfect . . . without flaw.
God loves unconditionally . . . surrounds us with that love that we do not deserve.
God loves us and wants the best for us even though we may continuously ignore God until we 'want what we want . . . and want it NOW!"
I wonder.
I wonder if we had 'grace' toward ourselves, gave ourselves a second chance when we begin finding a kazillion things wrong with ourselves.Or, worse yet, when others see no good in us.
Why do we listen to others?
Why do we seek kind words, loving words, appreciation?
Because that's the fuel we seem to run on.
God, in his perfect love, made us to love and be loved.
When we cannot understand this love, our lives may feel void, empty.
Is forgiveness an outcome of grace?
Can we forgive ourselves for mistakes, be willing to pay the consequences, turn around and try again?
When others can see the possibilities buried deep within us when we cannot . . . that's grace.
When we are willing to listen to good advice and dig deep within our soul to find a better way, that is grace.
When we can seek an encourager to cheer us on in life . . . a friend, a mentor, even a distant family member (when family may be the problem) . . . and follow the exhortations given to us . . . that is grace.
In order for us to go beyond survival and thrive and even give ourselves as an encourager to another, we must seek to know and understand grace wrapping around each of us.
It's the ribbon of grace that gives us hope.
It's grace that keeps us going when we 'feel' hope-less.It's hope that leads us to better places in our life journey.
Once we understand, or while we are in the midst of trying to understand, the best solution is to reach out to another . . . in grace.
Encourage another.
By giving 'grace' to another, we can't help but feel the comfort of the ribbon of grace wrapping around all involved in these moments of encouragement.
Grace
So comforting, so needed, so necessary for all of us.
June 16 Road Rage
Road rage.
I thought people have learned from the disastrous results of so many incidents a few years ago when it seemed to be a daily headline.
Road Rage . . .
That's what my sister said.
Dear friends of hers, whom I met decades ago, I recall to be the most loving, gracious, giving people among many I know.
Yesterday their daughter-in-law was driving her two young sons somewhere.
She was the object of Road Rage . . . or should I say, all of them were.
In fact, one of her sons is dead.
She and her eight year old are clinging to life.
What deranged person . . . no matter what happened . . . would kill a young boy and maim the rest?
Was he on drugs?
How did grace escape the soul of this 'raging' person?
I cannot comprehend how anyone in their right mind could do such a thing.
That's the problem.
He may not have been in his right mind.
When it was all over and when he was confronted with what he did . . . destroying the lives of an entire extended family . . . what is left of his life . . . his extended family?
Rage . . . absence of grace.
Rage . . . evil killer of body and soul.
I implore the grace of God to wrap around all involved . . . no matter how far the ramifications.
Wrap your grace around this nation, Lord, as the blitz of rage kills souls . . . and bodies.
June 17 Father's Day
It is always nice to be recognized for being a father.
All the Fathers were asked to stand up at the end of the worship service today.
We do not realize how important a father is until we note that so many families do not have fathers . . . for a myriad of reasons.
Over the decades I have heard the same wisdom about the importance of a father in the family.
A father only need be present for 15 minutes each day. . .
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| Dad died last year but he was a father to many outside the family who really needed a 'father' to mentor them. |
Just be present. . . .
Only 15 minutes a day. . .
In order to have an impact on the children.
God created man and women to creat. . . to come together in marriage, procreate and then RAISE the children.
Kudos to those fathers who are present and double kudos to those fathers who are active family leaders who help to shape the lives of their children.
For those who do not have a father present, I pray they have a father figure who is loving, caring and concerned for that family's welfare.
I pray for those children whose father (and/or mother) is deployed overseas. . . that they connect via Skype, email etc. as often as possible to maintain those 15 minutes whenever possible.
This connection adds strength to a strong family connection.
For all who may not have a loving Father, I pray they know our Abba . . . Father . . . our creator . . . the One who loves us unconditionally.
We all fail one another sometimes but God, our loving Father, our Abba . . . our intimate dad . . . will never fail us.
Father's day is not only a time to remember all the mortal fathers on this earth but it's also a time to remember that our loving Father, God, is there when there is no earthly father in our lives.
So reassuring.
June 18 Serendipity
Today is special.
No real reason other than my desire to proclaim today to be special.
Hubby and I, more often than not, fill our days with chores and errands and all those 'daily' commitments.
We forget to make a day a bit serendipity.
So, today became a serendipity day.
It began when we visited a neighbor who has not been able to leave skilled nursing for three years.
She nearly died and was totally incapacitated, blind and suffered numerous daily seizures.
Today, through many miracles, great physicians, . . . and much prayer with the GREAT Physician . . . and an incredibly loving husband and family, she is a joy to visit.
She can walk a bit, reads voraciously, maintains meaningful conversations with all who come to her, has several hobbies and is nearly able to do everything.
What a joy we have each visit.
We chat 'around the world' touching a kazillion subjects.
She's learning to write again but her fingers are still numb.
She can walk with a walker but it takes some doing and her husbands help.
He visits every day.
The room is packed with pictures of family and lovely sights.
Our moment of serendipity with this visit gave us a sense of celebration so we enjoyed a meal as we ran a couple errands.
Then we surprised ourselves with a very rare stop at the ice cream place.
A visit with our friend made the day very serendipity but the grand serendipity was lingering over melting ice-cream as we sat outside on this very hot day (in the shade, of course).
This Serendipity day was so very special!
June 19 Smug!
I felt so good about myself.
I actually bought a sweet birthday card for my sister well before her great day.
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| Mary Engelbrite makes great words dance. |
. . . until my tiny pea brain remembered . . .
. . . So, there was a reason she told me she and hubby would be leaving town and returning on certain dates.
The trip is for her birthday!
Thus, she will not be home to receive the card.
I seldom get cards to people on time and here is another 'better late than never' arrival of the card.
Will I ever learn?
My precious sister responded via email with a smile in her words.
She is just enjoying each day on this earth.
There will be plenty of time to open cards.
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| This says it all. Mary Engelbrite again. |
She is so right!
I recall my dear aunt saying to me well before here 100th birthday, "I'm going to enjoy this celebration of a century for well past the intended date."
Indeed she did . . . for well over a month.
Too many friends and extended family members wanted to 'celebrate' with her.
She just partied for what seemed forever.
She lived 104 years and enjoyed every moment.
That's what my sister is saying. . .
Just enjoy the moment and birthdays will simply come and go through our continued celebration of life.
Life is precious.
Birthdays simply place a marker on life's special moments.
Hooray for those special moments!
July 20 The Cut
Hubby's cousin is involved in many interesting occupations in his retirement.
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| Before the big cut. |
He had cut hair for decades just because someone asked him to cut hair.
He's good!
So, he decided to come down our way and give us a 'cut.'
Only our cut was 8-year-old bushes and trees that had never been trimmed.
I loved the beautiful shape each bush had but they were crowding out my rose bushes and other perennials.
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| Now we can see the garden! |
He sort of got carried away when he decided to cut back our ten-foot holly tree and totally slaughter the Forsythia bushes (which I'd been chipping away at every year for almost a decade).
He cut.
Oh My!
It looks GORGEOUS!
What a dear cousin, friend, wonder-man, Cut-guy.
Love it.
The yard is enjoying a 'new do'.
Cut away!
June 21, 2018 Charles Krauthammer 1950-2018
He died at 5pm and it was announced on the news at 6pm.
This is a sad moment in history.
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| He left his mark on the world just as this carne marks a special place to remind us of his life. |
June 9, he gave the world a statement that he only had a couple weeks to live.
I wrote at length on that day so this will be short.
I stopped everything to hear him on the 6pm news.
We purchased our local paper, via e-news, just to read his weekly column.
Charles was articulate, studied each issue he presented, gave both sides and gave no personal opinions that would cause ill-will toward anyone.
He twinkled as he sprinkled rye comments that made everyone chuckle.
He was generous towards everyone he met . . . beyond any I've ever known.
He loved his wife, son, baseball and God . . . not necessarily in that order . . . and spent cherished time with all of the above.
Charles studied theology and was a master at chess.
His father, an Orthodox Jew, told him to believe whatever he wanted but first he must study, dig deeply, find all he could about every subject possible
Therefore he was well studied in politics, theology, humorous tidbits in life and devoted to family.
He has been a great example for me when he said, "Deny your limitations . . . persevere as if you had no limitations . . . seek your dreams . . . work hard . . . enjoy each moment."
The world who knew him . . . and I . . . will dearly miss him.
Sigh.
June 22 Connections
I was determined to connect with my neighbors at the coffee shop.
Many go there four mornings a week to chat before they go about doing whatever they do.
I like seeing the women and catching up on newsy news BUT I
I have my routine.
I watch the birds flit about, sip my mug of water and take time to silently wake up before I continue my morning routine.
I then tread at a heavy pace on my glider for 35 minutes before lifting light weights.
My lower body is fit and trim but my arms seem to jiggle as their fatty blobs sway back and forth.
I don't mind signs of aging but I don't want to become weak.
I then fix my breakfast which is the same every day.
As I sip my tea, I dive into reading my daily scriptures, digesting meditations.
I then read the WSJ . . . no easy task when there are so many fabulous articles and so much to learn.
I never get finished with this routine until about 10 am or later.
The 'gals' gather at 8:30 am.
This morning I got up extra early to exercise and skipped breakfast in order to take time with the women.
As I'm going out the door my dearest friend from the South calls just to say HI.
Of course I stop everything and chat.
What a joy to connect with a dear friend I see during the winter.
I made it over to the coffee shop a little late and lingered at the counter with another who I'd not seen in months.
It took me thirty minutes of connecting with people at the counter before I sat with the table of women.
It's good to connect once in awhile.
Yet it takes time to connect.
My entire morning seemed to slip by in an instant.
Yet, it felt good.
I forgot how many people I know and love.
I wanted to know more about their year, their story.
Connection: a good thing.
June 23 Rainy Day
"Rain rain, please stay, I love to linger longer on a rainy day."
I love rainy days.
It's my excuse to stay in bed a little longer, read a book all day or open the porch door and breathe in that wonderful moist air.
So of course I got up early.
I followed through with my exercise, meditation and reading regimen.
I enjoyed a good breakfast and even made oatmeal for the two of us.
Yet, I also took the opportunity to sit a spell and complete another section of my Hardanger embroidery project I began twenty-five years ago.
On top of that, precious hubby made a very rare request for tuna casserole.
Why not.
Cooking the pasta would would take the longest but I'll throw it all
Because I rarely cook, much less casseroles, it took me an hour and I think I used six pots and pans and measuring cups and dishes and whatever was need to complete this cookbook recipe.
Hubby loved it!
I thought it was tasteless.
Oh well, just another delight-filled rainy day.
Come again, Rain.
The garden needs it and I love it!
June 24 John the Baptist
This is a special celebration day for John the baptizer.
The twelve disciples are given one specific day a year to celebrate who they were and what they did to carry the Gospel from the mouth of Jesus to the rest of the world.
Yet, John, the one who 'paved the way' for Jesus to come on the scene, is celebrated twice each year . . . at his birth and at his death.
This is the day we celebrate John's birth . . . six months before the birth of Jesus.
God calculated wisely.
John was born at the peak of the summer solstice . . . the time when the maximum light each day was on the cusp of declining.
Jesus would be born during the winter solstice . . . the darkest time of the year . . . Jesus, the Light who pierced the darkness of the day, the dark souls, the dark times.
Elizabeth and Zechariah miraculously became parents to John on
Elizabeth was well past child-bearing age . . . 'normally' impossible for bearing children.
With God all things are possible, as we've seen in scripture from Genesis to Revelation.
The words of the prophet Isaiah, given to him by God, came true when we recall, "Before you were born I knew you . . . while in the womb I knew your name . . . your destiny."
Because Elizabeth and Zechariah (a temple priest) dedicated their lives to God and listened to God, they were chosen to bear one whose "spirit within kicked when Mary, the mother of Jesus, arrived with her good news."
The Holy Spirit was alive in John as he grew and felt 'called' to go into the wilderness and join the Essenes . . . a disciplined group of Hebrews totally dedicated to God.
John, at the age of thirty, knew it was time for him to leave this haven of God's presence and go into the 'world' of fellow hebrews to tell them about the One who would come after him.
John had a HUGE following of those who had come to him, in the wilderness, to be encouraged in their dedication to God while still living in the 'secular' world.
The throngs who followed John were so large that, when John was baptizing for repentance, people kept coming to him at the Jordan river for days . . . weeks . . . perhaps months.
John knew there was ONE who was greater than he.
He repeated many times that he was not the one to follow but that
They must follow Jesus, the Messiah, the anointed One.
So, when Jesus appeared and walked through the crowd to John and asked to be baptized [because the Father directed Him thus] John was stunned, did as Jesus said, and IMMEDIATELY directed the throngs to "follow this 'divine One', Jesus."
Finally, as the crowds slowly began to follow Jesus, John left the scene and was later taken prisoner by the caesar and later beheaded.
Jesus wept.
John was present with God above the earth.
Jesus was "The Presence of God" on the earth.
June 25 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Birthdays are special.
We each have one.
It's the one day each year we are given to celebrate our life.
It's a day that is all ours . . . even if thousands around the world might be born on the same day.
It's a day each of us can shape the way we choose.
Do I sit in bed all day, sip tea and read a novel?
Do I hike that path not far from home that I've wanted to tackle for a long time?
Do I spend time with friends, family, hubby and whomever else is important to me?
Today is my sister's birthday.
She and her hubby are vacationing in a very special place, enjoying fresh air and healing tranquility away from the busy-ness of daily life.
It's a special turning point in her life . . . the same one I had eighteen months ago.
It is sometimes hard to wrap our mind around a new decade but this decade, into which I gently slipped, seems, from her response, is going to be the same for her.
I think, as we age, we simply appreciate a special moment, the beauty around us, those we love, a precious moment . . . and the ability to CELEBRATE ANOTHER BIRTHDAY!
Hooray for birthdays.
Another excuse to celebrate life!
June 26 Anonymous
I was thinking about "Anonymous."
Very prolific writer.In fact, as I read meditations or thought-filled writings or even recipe books, I see quotes from "Anonymous" too numerous to count.
Then I wonder.
How often have I shared a word or two of wisdom with another and then have seen it copied into the text of a brochure without my permission.
Perhaps my wisdom, or words of whimsy is so ordinary, so common, that another does not give it a second thought as it is shared with the world.
Perhaps words written without a name, without recognition, are more important than we think and should be shared with the world whether we know the author or not.Therefore, I am truly honored to receive words from "Anonymous."
At least I can pass such wisdom to another and another that might be helpful or encouraging in their walk through life.
After all, good words, positive words, instructive words, wise words, can be carried like radio waves into the hearts of those who choose to receive them.
Hooray for the prolific writings of Anonymous!
June 27 "Sugar Added"
Sometimes I read too fast and miss a word like "not" which changes the entire content of the article.
So, I read . . . and re-read this article in WSJ.
The tiny picture was clear.
It showed a lovely bottle of Maple Syrup . . . with the label, "Maple Syrup."
The small company creating the product may have been one of many family businesses who pride themselves on selling a pure product from the Maple tree.
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| This is the picture I saw in the WSJ |
I was raised in Minnesota, where Maple syrup is used prevalently.
However, we always knew it was a special treat from somewhere in New England.
Back then, decades ago, most foods were pretty 'pure.'
Pure maple syrup was a rare treat because it was more expensive than corn syrup.
As children we appreciated the fact that we were eating the sap from a Maple tree that went through a longe process before it was poured on our pancakes.
It was a treat.
As a household of six we experienced this treat around Christmas each year when my grandmother or some relative purchased it for us . . . along with 'pure maple candy' which was solid sugar.
We each usually received one piece and that was it.
That made it even more special.
In no way would this make me obese . . . especially as a young, active, healthy child.
However, this article I read in WSJ was a response to the FDA requirement that if the product contains sugar the contents must have the label 'added sugar' to warn those who have a weight problem.
Syrup.
Sugar.
It's pure sugar.
How can one add sugar to sugar?
Has the process of deductive reasoning gone so far down hill that we now have to label a sugar product "added sugar" when there is no additional sugar added?
Hmmmm, perhaps we will have to devise something for those in the future who have not learned to read?
I do get frustrated that our ever-shrinking minds need this much help.
B R E A T H E . . . says my soul.
Breathe in a new day and know that "added sugar" is just a part of this changing world.
June 28 The Story
I love reading a good story but listening to a story unfold is even better.
My brother really knows how to tell a story.
In fact, I just finished reading his latest book of short stories filled with true adventures he encounters on his road trips . . . in his tiny Lotus cars . . . many with his wife.
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| His second book |
The pickles he gets into are laughable after the adventure . . . when he is home safe and can reflect on his harrowing experience.
The many acts of how God has unbelievably taken care of him and fixed the problem miraculously . . . . with a little help all around, are endless.
My brother knows how to ignore a tiny problem until it explodes in front of him.
He is also a master at finding solutions almost immediately because he needs an immediate solution.
I laughed through this last book, Highways, Byways And Racetracks, Adventures on Asphalt and sent him an email telling him how much I laughed and loved his adventures.
No response.
Of course not.
He was on a 6200 mile road trip!
And did he have an adventure.
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| His first book |
I called him after waiting a good length of time.
90 minutes later I hang up smiling.
During that time we chatted a bit but he also told me . . . in great detail . . . the story of the miracle of replacing his car radiator in only 48 hours where there was none to be had.
He just 'happened' to be helped by two of the top Indy 500 car fixers in Indianapolis on his way, from Minnesota, to a road rally in N.C.
No detail was missed as the story unfolded.
I know little about cars but learned much.
What a miraculous adventure . . . again.
"You need to write another book!" I said.
"Oh, it's just another story," he retorted.
Yet, the stories continue . . . and will continue for many more years, I imagine.
I LOVE a good story and my brother knows how to LIVE them.
June 29 "Come on over"
We all say, "Come on over for dinner," thinking we will make a date in the future, when we have plenty of time.
Yet, time flits away and we never get together.
We have been blessed with friendships with two other couples who have more complex lives than ours.
All of our schedules, when put together, create a tight mesh that seems impenetrable.
Yet, we work hard at making time to "Come on over."
Hubby and I are gone from this place during the winter.
The other couple is younger and each works long hours and weekends . . . collectively.
The third, also retired, works part time and travels extensively whenever possible.
We set dates well in advance and look forward to a few hours lingering over a dinner prepared, in part, by each of us.
Nothing beats lingering longer in someone's home.
One challenge we have is that we always say, afterwards,
"We need to spend more time with each other."
Last night was no different.
We arrived two hours early so the four of us could chat before the 'working' couple arrived later in the evening.
When they came, the conversation wove it's threads through each of us, non-stop.
It's as if we hadn't seen each other for seven months!
Which is correct!
So much to say . . . so much to catch up on . . . so little time.
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| This is where we will entertain when it is our turn. We've already enjoyed friends four times this summer but forget to take pictures. |
Fortunately, between the six of us, we all find snippets of time with one other so that, when we get together our discussion focuses on topics common to all . . . which are many!
We arrived at 5:30 and left at 11pm.
None of us could believe it.
We felt we could spend several more hours together.
Well, "Come on over," to the next person's home is already being discussed.
We are third in line, which is just fine.
Can't wait until we "Come on over" to the next couple's abode and linger together far longer than we ought.
[Note: We each live about one hour from each other which adds to the challenge of "Come on over!"]
June 30 A summer day to linger longer
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| Susan Branch says it all. Add friends and all is complete. |
I find it taxing to blog daily on this one.
Yet, today, I linger on the back porch and feel the heat of summer.
It's HOT . . . 95 degrees . . . and here I am, sitting, listening, enjoying summer.
I write, I read, I respond to a phone call . . . and I listen to the farmer's tractor across the way as he slowly hauls his unique contraption that gathers hay and puts it into HUGE bails.
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| Amish are not allowed to have rubber tires. I don't know what this contraption is but it's Amish |
The hay is ready.
I feel badly for the farmer and his buddy gathering hay all day to fill a wagon full of 100 pound bails.
But I am fascinated.
They are too far away to get a picture without a telephoto lens.
I peer through my binoculars and try to catch glimpses of them through the lush foliage that blocks much of my sight.
I listen to the 'ka-thud, ka-thud, ka-thud' . . . the rhythmic beat of the tractor.
I linger a little longer in the heat feeling blessed by the sights and sounds that surround me.
Ahhh, summer.
I love it.
Now we move into really HOT . . . July!
