Remembering to be Thankful

With just under two weeks until Thanksgiving, I am seeing requests on Facebook etc, to post something each day for which I am thankful. Unfortunately I am not a daily poster on my Facebook but I am trying to do this anyway. I think it is a good practice, year round, and not just at this time of year. But if now is when we begin, that is a good thing. I also find that trying to just think of one thing specifically for each day can be much more difficult than just sitting down and counting all your blessings at once. The thought process by which you choose that one thing to be thankful for that day can take you on some long journeys mentally.
Today is a grey day, no sun and a constant chilly drizzle coming down from the clouds. I posted on my Facebook that I am thankful for the memory of yesterday's sunshine. Tomarrow I will be thankful for the birth of my son, 22 years ago and the joy he continues to bring into our lives. He was a calm, happy baby. Today he is a kind, caring person.

Gingersnaps

Nothing says fall like the sweet smell of warm gingersnap cookies! And these adorable treats were made with the new animal cookie cutters sent to me by my sister on my birthday this year! There is a bear cub, a moose, a fox, a hedgehog, and a squirrel. A little chocolate sprinkle for the eye and they are as cute as they are yummy! Mmmmm, hot cup of tea and a plate of gingersnaps!

Hold memories close...

I don't know when we ever experienced a Summer like we did this year for Harley riding. Every weekend seemed to allow us an opportunity to ride. Most Saturday afternoons, after I closed up the library, we would hop on and go. What a gift, to set astride that bike, arms around the man of my life, and...the only decision facing us in that moment is north, south, east or west!

Life has its moments and those are to be appreciated for the treasures they truly are. Yes, June, July, August and September gave us days and weekends, sometimes 4 days at a time, to ride with the wind on our face and enjoy the beauty around us. We never rode in rain, though there were times when we could smell it. The wind never beat us down, but kept us cool. The sky above us was never more blue or the clouds more white.

I hope we keep the memories of this summer with us for many years to come, to remind us of better days, when snow is on the ground and dust is on the bike.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosaschmidt/sets/72157622599345694/

Now October...is a totally different story...

August??

I guess we were just too busy enjoying the ride to find time to post in August.
"La vie est belle"

As the Garden Grows

This summer's garden, and I am talking about my flower garden here, has been wonderful. The flowers have been lovely. The spring showcased beautiful columbine of many colors. The "blue flags" that came from Grandma's back step and originally her mother's farm, were impeccable miniature iris. The rhizomes are increasing and spreading so that in a few more years I will have plenty to share with my sister when they move back to Nebraska. Grandma would be more than pleased to know that these small beauties are still being enjoyed and shared. (Miss you Grandma!XO)
Our pond frogs were busy and created a tadpole or two of their own this year! We have spied them in the pond and are excited to have their progress to observe. The goldfish are growing. Most are atleast 5 inches now and it is very calming to sit by the pond and watch them swimming without a care in the world. They know our shadow and congregate near it when ready to be fed.
The daylilies have begun their summer show. The yellow Stella de Oro Daylily put on quite group of blooms and will again later as I have deadheaded them recently. There are some large wine-black blooms and some golden orange showing off now. The blossoms are so full and strong that when their time is gone and they are spent, it is ...sad.
Tim and I went for a Sunday ride and came home with a small metal sculpture to add to the garden. We now have a variety of items along the small path leading to the roses. I love the little bird perched atop the tower.
Tim's garden is also doing quite well this year. We have been enjoying new potatoes, green beans, and beets. The asparagus is long done now (sigh) and the strawberries that we did not immediately devour are packed in bags in the freezer just waiting to top homemade angel food. Our rasberries may not offer much but our daughter's are loaded so there will be more than a few she will want to share. The apples and grapes look good, the pears fell off-aw well maybe next year for the pears. Can't have everything.

"The best things in life are nearest Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life." Robert Louis Stevenson »

My Heart

My first child, my daughter, my beauty, was born 28 years ago today. How can this be? 28, twenty-eight, XXVIII, years have flown by me. Flown so fast that it makes me dizzy when I think of it.
Today she is a young woman with babies of her own. Knowing for herself the love that a mother feels for her child, does she know now the love I feel for her?
The memories I have of this child can bring joy to my heart so strong that my breath catches in my chest.
Happy Birthday my first born, my daughter, my heart.

In the Eyes of the Beholder

What a weekend! My sister, her husband and their new baby have been here the last few days. I flew out to Baltimore to meet my new niece in January, shortly after her birth and so now to get acquainted with her again at 5 months was wonderful. She is an extremely calm and happy baby. I could not be happier for my sister, who unlike me waited many years to start a family.
We were able to spend some quality "sister" time together on Friday. The baptism for Ana was on Sunday in Lincoln and then we celebrated in the most wonderful place, Pioneers Park. An awesome park to take kids who enjoy wildlife and outdoors! Our grands had a great time exploring and hiking with Grandpa!
We had a professional photographer there to take family photos ( a first in about 15 years!) It was a memorable day for our family and it is too bad that we don't find time to have more of them. Speaking of family time, Tim and I are planning some "away together time" soon. Last year's trips created some wonderful memories for us and we look forward to more this year. After almost 29 years of marriage we can fully appreciate our blessings that we share together and pray for them to continue for as long as God will provide. The first time we saw the photos of the two of us from Sunday, I was struck (as I always am) that we don't quite look like we did 30 years ago when we were just a couple of young kids that were having a good ol'time. Our bodies have aged together, I just never really notice it... until it is put so boldly in front of me in a photo like that.
We are "maturing" to put it nicely, we just don't seem to notice it when we are looking into each others eyes. In my eyes he is still that boy that I fell in love with...that makes me laugh...that shares my good and my bad...that lifts me up when I am down...that stands beside me and takes whatever comes together.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf

A bookclub that I am in recently discussed "Plainsong" by Kent Haruf. Set in the fictional small town of Holt, Colorado, this story takes the reader into the intersecting lives of 6-7 main characters (if you include Maggie, who is basically the link between the other characters--Tom Guthrie and his sons Ike and Bobby, Victoria Roubideaux, and the McPheron brothers-Raymond and Harold). I totally loved this story when it first came out in 1999. The ability this author had to create characters worth caring about was awesome. I knew that I had to read more by Haruf, unfortunately at that time there were only 2 other titles he had written; "The Tie that Binds" in 1984 and "Where you once belonged" in 1990. Both great books with some awards, but Plainsong was the first real best-seller. He has since written a sequel to "Plainsong", in 2004 he wrote "Eventide" picking up once again with the McPheron brothers, Tom Guthrie, Maggie, Ike, Bobby and Victoria Roubideaux.
In both "Plainsong" and "Eventide" Haruf does not use quotations etc which some readers may find odd, but the way he writes in long continuous sentences reminds me of the way we speak (or ramble) in the Midwest, much like the countryside goes on into the distance.
I hope you try "Plainsong" and open yourself up to these characters and the country that surrounds them. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did. .

Grandpa's love

I was too young to remember this particular afternoon with Grandpa, however this picture represents everything I loved about this man.
He could always take time for the little things...even when it was something this simple. He did this for me and again with each of my own children.
Looking at this photo brings a calm feeling over me and reminds me of the value to be found in finding that moment in each day to do something kind for another person.
Thank you Grandpa! I love you!

Mother's Day brings a change...

This Mother's Day was the very first in 27 years, since the birth of our daughter in 1981, that we did not have a child living in our home. Our son is "home" from college, but is fullfilling a dream of his own this summer...to not live off mom and dad. He is working and living on his own this summer. I am so proud of him, quite proud of both of our children actually! But back to Mother's day...it was unusually quiet that morning.
We were going to sleep in, but that isn't something that is easy for me. So that morning was more like "Father's Day" but I got to enjoy the Sunday paper, my rocker and the view from our front porch with just the birds to keep me company. Later Tim took me out to lunch and to various green houses so we came home with a pickup load of mulch and some new plants, one inparticular is a lovely "peach melba coral belles"!
Later when I was free to work in my flower beds, our daughter and her family came to visit. My gifts were very nice pair of gardening gloves and some fancy new pruners! Our son Sam, had surprised me with a flower delivery earlier in the week, and he came by later in the day so I could get my hug!
My children know I am easily pleased with anything for my gardens. I enjoy a variety of hobbies, but gardening is by far a favorite! The smell of the soil in spring is like nothing else. Add to that the Lilacs in bloom, freshly mowed grass, and the sound of the water splashing into the pond. It is close to Heaven! Tim has hung 2 Wren houses and we have a pair nesting in one. I thought for sure they would pick the one in the Redbud tree, but the silly things picked the one in the new Maple tree right by the sidewalk. I love Wrens! They have such a powerful song for such tiny creatures.
The goldfish in our pond weathered the winter well and we have seen several frogs left over from last summer, when Tim brought a bucket of tadpoles from a country pond. I never knew it took so long for tadpoles to become frogs! The Grands sure enjoyed checking on them last year and were very pleased to see that some had made the choice to make our little garden pond their new home.
Our "perfect for climbing" tree is temporarily off limits. A robin has made the most adorable nest in it and we don't want to disturb her. Of course the desire to climb up and look into the nest is quite tempting but we had to say no to the Grands for now. After they had fed the fish and left for home, Tim and I had our time alone again. It's not a bad thing having your children grown. It's really a great thing, something to be thankful for. But like any other change, it takes some getting used too.

Bleeding Heart Square

Every once in a while I like a good British story. Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor was quite good. "It’s 1934, and the decaying London cul-de-sac of Bleeding Heart Square is an unlikely place of refuge for aristocratic Lydia Langstone. But as she flees her abusive marriage there is only one person she can turn to - the genteelly derelict Captain Ingleby-Lewis, currently lodging at no.7. However, unknown to Lydia, a dark mystery haunts 7 Bleeding Heart Square. What happened to Miss Penhow, the middle-aged spinster who owns the house and who vanished four years earlier? Why is a seedy plain-clothes policeman obsessively watching the square? What is making struggling journalist Rory Wentwood so desperate to contact Miss Penhow?"
This story was pretty tame, however it alluded to a bit of inappropriate (kinky)behavior without going in to great detail. I enjoyed the fact that I was surprised by the ending!