Spring is coming! I can see the forgotten things on the patio, thawing out with the snow. A forgotten flip-flop, a crushed can, a box escaped from the recycling bin.
A squirrel runs down the back fence, grabs a bite from a forgotten corn stalk. But he's still fat and fluffy.
I find a clump of Malamute hair on the kitchen floor, all by itself. A lone box elder bug crawls up the window.
The grill sits on the only spot of dry pavement in the yard, having been shoveled around all winter.
I itch to clean the backyard out. The garden with the ferns needs clearing, I know the tree in the front yard needs the pavers moved and a few hostas planted around it.
When I reach out the door for the mail, I see the buds on the Russian Sage plants and smile. They've been buried all winter, but now I can see them. I raise the blinds in the living room, turn off the heat during the day.
I'm a winter person, really. Give me a sweater and a hot chocolate any day. But as I sip my morning hot tea, I find myself dreaming of long lazy warm days, grilling on the patio, seeking the shade, staying up until the sun goes down, and planning my garden.
I pet my Malamute, shake the loose fur off my fingers, and dream of a getaway to a beach with my husband. Then I turn up the heat, pull on a sweater, and cook a hot dinner. Spring is coming. I know it is.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Soon...
I check the weather channel. Above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, in the Midwest that's good enough. I head for the store, to grab the usual things I forgot the day before. On the way home, with a crazy smile on my face, I pull into the local car wash, and ask for "the works". Later, with the van still dripping, I pull into the local fast food joint, for a quick shake for the current sick child.
Once home, I switch over the laundry, grab a couple steaks from the freezer to defrost, pour a cold drink for myself, and scrub a few potatoes. As I season the steaks, and wait for the grill to warm up, I look out the back window.
The spots where we've shoveled have started to melt. Mostly around the grill and the back steps, there are clear spots, where you can see nothing but concrete. DRY concrete!
Back inside, I notice a few clumps of dog hair; our Malamute is beginning to blow his coat, a sure sign that spring is coming, and that I'm in for three solid months of daily vacuuming.
The steaks are done, the potatoes are done. I look out the window, to make sure I've turned off the grill, and spot a little green where the silver miller plants in my planters are trying to come alive.
"Soon..." I think, "soon..."
Once home, I switch over the laundry, grab a couple steaks from the freezer to defrost, pour a cold drink for myself, and scrub a few potatoes. As I season the steaks, and wait for the grill to warm up, I look out the back window.
The spots where we've shoveled have started to melt. Mostly around the grill and the back steps, there are clear spots, where you can see nothing but concrete. DRY concrete!
Back inside, I notice a few clumps of dog hair; our Malamute is beginning to blow his coat, a sure sign that spring is coming, and that I'm in for three solid months of daily vacuuming.
The steaks are done, the potatoes are done. I look out the window, to make sure I've turned off the grill, and spot a little green where the silver miller plants in my planters are trying to come alive.
"Soon..." I think, "soon..."
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2010: the awards
I would like to give out a few awards for the year 2010, just because they deserve it:
I'm calling these the "Slap up side the Head " awards.
1.In the " Pursuing an ideal to it's end, regardless of the consequences" category: The US Government, for finally designing a bill that is completely counterfeit-proof. The problem with this, of course, is that not even the US Mint can replicate these bills, which is sort of a problem!
2. In the "Talking the Talk, but Hiding Under My Party's Coattails" category, Barack Obama, for knowing all the right things to say, but not having a clue how to walk the walk.
3. In the " Way to Come out Fighting, and then Retire into Oblivion " category, all of the people who don't vote in any election except a presidential election. Pu-leeze, people, just vote already.
4. In the " Way to talk the talk but not walk the walk " category, everyone who complains about our country's sucky economy, but drives a foreign car. (Get real, already. Where do you think the economy comes from?)
5. In the "B%@*# all you can but don't do anything" category, everyone who voted Republican, but believes in : Gay rights, a woman's right to choose, a person's right to exist without interference from the government, a person's right to pay taxes and therefore have rights in the
government, anyone who believes they have the right to chose how and who to worship.
I could give out many more awards. But I won't , because most people don't have even a modicum of common sense. I am proudly a person who is a Christian, a wife, a mother, a conservative, a liberal. None of these things are exclusive if you have a even a bit of common sense. I love my God, my husband, my children, my right to chose, my right to vote, my right to demonstrate, my right to whatever I want to do that doesn't hurt you. But most people don't understand this, they think they have to indentify with a certain party or candidate. I have mostly voted Democrat, but I can tell you right now, I'd vote Green party or Communist or Independant or Write-In. I proudly voted for Obama, but if I had 30 minutes alone with him, I would certainly take the time to set him straight about his priority's. I love my country, and to paraphrase Ben Franklin, " Patriotism is loyalty to your country always, and your government when they deserve it."
I refuse to be indentified by my loyalty to a party, or a sex, or a belief. I will stand for what I believe in, and "teach the children quietly, for someday sons and daughters, will arise up and fight where we stood still".
I'm calling these the "Slap up side the Head " awards.
1.In the " Pursuing an ideal to it's end, regardless of the consequences" category: The US Government, for finally designing a bill that is completely counterfeit-proof. The problem with this, of course, is that not even the US Mint can replicate these bills, which is sort of a problem!
2. In the "Talking the Talk, but Hiding Under My Party's Coattails" category, Barack Obama, for knowing all the right things to say, but not having a clue how to walk the walk.
3. In the " Way to Come out Fighting, and then Retire into Oblivion " category, all of the people who don't vote in any election except a presidential election. Pu-leeze, people, just vote already.
4. In the " Way to talk the talk but not walk the walk " category, everyone who complains about our country's sucky economy, but drives a foreign car. (Get real, already. Where do you think the economy comes from?)
5. In the "B%@*# all you can but don't do anything" category, everyone who voted Republican, but believes in : Gay rights, a woman's right to choose, a person's right to exist without interference from the government, a person's right to pay taxes and therefore have rights in the
government, anyone who believes they have the right to chose how and who to worship.
I could give out many more awards. But I won't , because most people don't have even a modicum of common sense. I am proudly a person who is a Christian, a wife, a mother, a conservative, a liberal. None of these things are exclusive if you have a even a bit of common sense. I love my God, my husband, my children, my right to chose, my right to vote, my right to demonstrate, my right to whatever I want to do that doesn't hurt you. But most people don't understand this, they think they have to indentify with a certain party or candidate. I have mostly voted Democrat, but I can tell you right now, I'd vote Green party or Communist or Independant or Write-In. I proudly voted for Obama, but if I had 30 minutes alone with him, I would certainly take the time to set him straight about his priority's. I love my country, and to paraphrase Ben Franklin, " Patriotism is loyalty to your country always, and your government when they deserve it."
I refuse to be indentified by my loyalty to a party, or a sex, or a belief. I will stand for what I believe in, and "teach the children quietly, for someday sons and daughters, will arise up and fight where we stood still".
Saturday, December 25, 2010
10 Things From Inside My Head
1. Aragorn? Seriously? SHAVE! I mean really, he has that sharp sword, it kills orcs, just flippin shave already.
2. I wanna rescue all the puppies everywhere. If I weren't married, I'd be the crazy cat lady, sans cats, with goggies .
3. I. cannot. drive. in . the. snow. ( It's the south in me. Sorry, can't help it. )
4. I have totally embraced the primitive look. Mostly because of the types of places I have lived. If I were rich, I would probably be minimalist, except in my closets.
5. My ideal house is the Frank Lloyd Wright house, in the Chicago 'burbs.
6. I wanna buy a pretty red truck, with four wheel drive, and cool paint job.
7. My Ideal day involves a manicure, a pizza, a Cosmopolitan, a DVD of Home Alone, a Snickers Bar, a Kindle, and my wonderful husband, all at the mall.
8. Ask me about the Hobbit, or The Lord of the Rings. Anything, Really. (Ok, maybe I'm a nerd. It's ok, I don't mind. I like it here. )
9. I'll try to cook anything you name. Might not be good, but I'll enjoy the challenge. and the food.
10. Speaking of food, I haven't met one I don't like. E.V.E.R.
2. I wanna rescue all the puppies everywhere. If I weren't married, I'd be the crazy cat lady, sans cats, with goggies .
3. I. cannot. drive. in . the. snow. ( It's the south in me. Sorry, can't help it. )
4. I have totally embraced the primitive look. Mostly because of the types of places I have lived. If I were rich, I would probably be minimalist, except in my closets.
5. My ideal house is the Frank Lloyd Wright house, in the Chicago 'burbs.
6. I wanna buy a pretty red truck, with four wheel drive, and cool paint job.
7. My Ideal day involves a manicure, a pizza, a Cosmopolitan, a DVD of Home Alone, a Snickers Bar, a Kindle, and my wonderful husband, all at the mall.
8. Ask me about the Hobbit, or The Lord of the Rings. Anything, Really. (Ok, maybe I'm a nerd. It's ok, I don't mind. I like it here. )
9. I'll try to cook anything you name. Might not be good, but I'll enjoy the challenge. and the food.
10. Speaking of food, I haven't met one I don't like. E.V.E.R.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
My Kindle and My Books
Last year for Christmas I received a Kindle from my dear husband, who knows how much I love books. It has been one of my dearest friends all year long, allowing me access to inexpensive versions of all of the books I currently wish to read, and I would heartily recommend it to anyone who likes to read, and wishes to purchase books on the spur of the moment.
But how, you may wonder, does it compare to reading an actual paper and print book? I won't confine this to an actual review of the kindle, because anyone with even a limited imagination can imagine what it would be like to hold a plastic device and click a button instead of turning a page. What I will say is the biggest difference is the actual purchasing of the book.
Indulge me, just a moment, will you? Imagine a 9 year old girl, already in love with books, taken to "the big library" by her parents. It was rumored to be haunted by the lady who first lived in the old house, turned into a library, and she could be seen on the third floor occasionally. But the children's books, the ones I was interested in, were in the basement. That's right, the basement. As in , creepy, dark stairway, and old oak desk with scary lady at the helm. But past all of that, past creepy librarian and dark stairway, were the books. Rooms and rooms of them, picture books, first readers, first chapter books, Nancy Drew, A Wrinkle in Time, The Chronicles of Narnia, Madeline, The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler, all of them. And they smelled like books. Like books should smell, I mean. And that scary lady at the desk? Well. She had the nerve to make me wash my hands before I handled them. I hated that then, but now I totally understand.She knew, you see, that not all of those books would be reprinted again, and that we had to take care of the copies we had.
Fast Forward. 32 years later. All of those books are at my fingertips again. They don't smell like books should smell, and I don't have to get past the scary librarian lady at the big desk to get to them. But they are mine. I never have to return them. I never have to explain to the librarian why I'm checking out Agatha Christie, A bible commentary, Nancy Drew, and The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler, all at the same time. I can read them anywhere. In a hospital waiting room, during naptime, in the middle of a football game. No one asks why I'm reading a children's book, or a theology dissertation, or an Amish fluffy cozy mystery. It's my world, you see. I get to control what goes on there, what goes into my mind. Mind candy, love stories, biblical commentary, british mystery stories, stuff I read as a kid. It's all mine!
And, as a bonus, in my mind, I can always remember that first visit to the big library, the hope of seeing a ghost, the smells, and even the scary librarian lady at the big desk. It's mine, all mine. All at the touch of a button.
But how, you may wonder, does it compare to reading an actual paper and print book? I won't confine this to an actual review of the kindle, because anyone with even a limited imagination can imagine what it would be like to hold a plastic device and click a button instead of turning a page. What I will say is the biggest difference is the actual purchasing of the book.
Indulge me, just a moment, will you? Imagine a 9 year old girl, already in love with books, taken to "the big library" by her parents. It was rumored to be haunted by the lady who first lived in the old house, turned into a library, and she could be seen on the third floor occasionally. But the children's books, the ones I was interested in, were in the basement. That's right, the basement. As in , creepy, dark stairway, and old oak desk with scary lady at the helm. But past all of that, past creepy librarian and dark stairway, were the books. Rooms and rooms of them, picture books, first readers, first chapter books, Nancy Drew, A Wrinkle in Time, The Chronicles of Narnia, Madeline, The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler, all of them. And they smelled like books. Like books should smell, I mean. And that scary lady at the desk? Well. She had the nerve to make me wash my hands before I handled them. I hated that then, but now I totally understand.She knew, you see, that not all of those books would be reprinted again, and that we had to take care of the copies we had.
Fast Forward. 32 years later. All of those books are at my fingertips again. They don't smell like books should smell, and I don't have to get past the scary librarian lady at the big desk to get to them. But they are mine. I never have to return them. I never have to explain to the librarian why I'm checking out Agatha Christie, A bible commentary, Nancy Drew, and The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler, all at the same time. I can read them anywhere. In a hospital waiting room, during naptime, in the middle of a football game. No one asks why I'm reading a children's book, or a theology dissertation, or an Amish fluffy cozy mystery. It's my world, you see. I get to control what goes on there, what goes into my mind. Mind candy, love stories, biblical commentary, british mystery stories, stuff I read as a kid. It's all mine!
And, as a bonus, in my mind, I can always remember that first visit to the big library, the hope of seeing a ghost, the smells, and even the scary librarian lady at the big desk. It's mine, all mine. All at the touch of a button.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Being "Broke"
Well, it happened again this morning. Notice from another client that she was taking her child to a daycare center, instead of here. Aside from the fact that I don't understand why anyone would want their infant in a room with a 20 kids to 1 adult ratio, there's the whole ,"Great, now I'm going to be really broke until I get more clients" issue.
Not, mind you, that I've ever been really poor. Quite the opposite, really. I've never really known hunger. Even after my first child was born, and I was so poor that the telephone got turned off, and I got evicted from my apartment for non-payment of rent, I always was able to eat. Not really well, and certainly not the way a doctor would tell you to, but I ate none-the-less. I've never had to sleep in my car because I had no where else to go. I've never worn shoes with holes in them or clothes that were too small.
God has always taken care of me, and I expect he always will. We have family who are willing to help out when needed, and there are so many opportunities in this great country of ours for people who need help.
So, I guess we'll cut out the soda and DQ runs for awhile, and Christmas gifts may be a little sparse this year, but you know what? By the biblical definition, I'm still rich. And if I have to work nights and weekends at a fast food joint to be able to pay all the bills on time, I'll just pray for strength to be able to do that, and thank the good Lord that He's given me all He has.
In the long run, none of this matters anyway. "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." 2 Timothy 1:12
Not, mind you, that I've ever been really poor. Quite the opposite, really. I've never really known hunger. Even after my first child was born, and I was so poor that the telephone got turned off, and I got evicted from my apartment for non-payment of rent, I always was able to eat. Not really well, and certainly not the way a doctor would tell you to, but I ate none-the-less. I've never had to sleep in my car because I had no where else to go. I've never worn shoes with holes in them or clothes that were too small.
God has always taken care of me, and I expect he always will. We have family who are willing to help out when needed, and there are so many opportunities in this great country of ours for people who need help.
So, I guess we'll cut out the soda and DQ runs for awhile, and Christmas gifts may be a little sparse this year, but you know what? By the biblical definition, I'm still rich. And if I have to work nights and weekends at a fast food joint to be able to pay all the bills on time, I'll just pray for strength to be able to do that, and thank the good Lord that He's given me all He has.
In the long run, none of this matters anyway. "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." 2 Timothy 1:12
Monday, October 18, 2010
Never Too Old To Learn
This weekend, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to learn a few things.
I spent the weekend with some dear friends, watched the Chilean miners get freed, cooked a lot, and lost a couple clients. All of which, combined with some other things, have taught me that:
1. Not everything has to be perfect. A little dust should be a part of every home-like house.
2. The little things are the most important. Kiss your kids every day(even if it makes them cringe), pet the dogs, skip the gourmet meal and nuke a pot pie, go shopping and spend a little money on nothing, laugh at nothing till you cry, grill whatever is in the freezer and add a bagged salad, hug a friend's grandbaby.
3. Dance nekked in the surf!!
4. Cook even if you don't have time, if that's what makes you happy. (If it's not what makes you happy, eat Cap'n Crunch and don't worry about what other people think!)
5. Don't worry all the time about money. Sometimes ya gotta buy something totally unneeded and worry about the bill for the pink sweater later. (But not all the time!)
6. Love your dogs and treat them well, no matter what every one else thinks. Because God Made Them Too.
7. Have fun, and don't take everything so seriously. Because, really, if a 5 month old can be happy just blowing spit bubbles, why can't we?
I spent the weekend with some dear friends, watched the Chilean miners get freed, cooked a lot, and lost a couple clients. All of which, combined with some other things, have taught me that:
1. Not everything has to be perfect. A little dust should be a part of every home-like house.
2. The little things are the most important. Kiss your kids every day(even if it makes them cringe), pet the dogs, skip the gourmet meal and nuke a pot pie, go shopping and spend a little money on nothing, laugh at nothing till you cry, grill whatever is in the freezer and add a bagged salad, hug a friend's grandbaby.
3. Dance nekked in the surf!!
4. Cook even if you don't have time, if that's what makes you happy. (If it's not what makes you happy, eat Cap'n Crunch and don't worry about what other people think!)
5. Don't worry all the time about money. Sometimes ya gotta buy something totally unneeded and worry about the bill for the pink sweater later. (But not all the time!)
6. Love your dogs and treat them well, no matter what every one else thinks. Because God Made Them Too.
7. Have fun, and don't take everything so seriously. Because, really, if a 5 month old can be happy just blowing spit bubbles, why can't we?
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