A Room with a View

In our home there is a small back room where I spend quite a bit of time.  It houses the television, books, children's toys, etc.  It is where Maxine and Tansy hang out with me.  It also has patio doors where I can view the backyard very nicely.  It is from this window that I watch the hummingbirds flit around, drink their nectar and often sit on the clothesline.    I can see the gardens, flowerbeds and sunflowers.  At times the squirrels sneak by the window in their quest for nuts, seeds or whatever.  The fairy garden is within view so I can watch fairy world all summer long.

Another thing I can see is a neighbor's backyard and their hammock.  I marvel at how much entertainment that hammock provides for this family.  During the school year, the kids are on it before they leave for the day.  After they leave, the mother comes out and spends time there.  When the mother has a friend over, they both sit on it.  Since it is always out in the elements, I am suspicious as to how it might smell, but it doesn't bother them.  

 I may not have a plush room overlooking the Eiffel Tower, Central Park or the crashing waves of the ocean, but I do see many delightful and interesting things from that tiny room here in Colfax, WI.

Thought for the day:  You can observe alot by just watching.   Yogi Berra

Inside Out

A week ago I was with Aria and Melody, and it was raining.  Therefore, I decided to take them to the movie. I am so glad that we went because not only was it one of the best movies I have ever seen, but during it a very memorable moment occurred.

We went to see Inside Out which Melody had already seen, and I had been wanting to see.  The theater has reclining seats so Mel, Aria and were very comfortable while eating our popcorn.  So the premise of the movie is giving us a peak into the brain and our emotions.  The emotions portrayed by characters are joy, sadness, fear, anger and disgust.  It is done very cleverly and in a way that you can relate to the different scenarios and reactions by the emotions.

As the movie goes on, joy and sadness get taken away from headquarters and are trying to find their way back.  Along the way, they met Bing Bong, who at one time was Riley's (the girl who houses the emotions) imaginary friend.  Of course, as she grew up, he was pushed to the side while other life events took over.  Bing Bong and joy eventually end up in the area of forgotten memories and work very hard to get out.  In the end, joy gets out but Bing Bong does not. You see him start to fade away, and he will be forever forgotten.  At this moment, I look over at Melody because I am crying, and she is crying, too.  She flies across Aria's seat to give me a big hug, and then Aria joins in.  So we had this amazing moment when time sort of stood still.  I think for Melody to understand the significance of things lost as time goes by is wonderful, and for me it reminded me of all the losses in my own life and how at some point in the future, Melody and Aria will be grown up.  Going places with Baba will be a thing of the past. Also, we learned that sadness is an important emotion, and we should allow sadness at times and not try to be always joyful.  Deep stuff came out of what could have been a simple kid's movie.
I applaud the writers and all those involved in this film.  It was darn good.

Thought for the day:  A memory is what is left when some thing happens and does not completely unhappen.  Edward de Bono

Please don't go!

First of all, let me say that today is one of the most gorgeous summer days in my memory.  The temperature is perfect, the sky is blue, there is a slight breeze, and we still have flowers and vegetables to admire.
On Labor Day I spent a few hours sitting by the river reading and contemplating the end of another summer.  I wanted to shout and ask summer not to leave us. As I watched the river continuously flowing, I knew in my heart there was no way to stop summer from going any more than I could stop loved ones from leaving.  I thought of my parents, my sister and other relatives no longer with me, and once again nature seemed to mirror life.
I know that summer will once again arrive just as sure that I know that fall, winter and spring will come and go.  However, as I watch the hummingbirds darting about, the monarchs sailing through the air, the majestic sunflowers, wispy cosmos and vibrant zinnias, it occurs to me that next summer won't be exactly like this one.  The next season will be totally different and therefore, there is no guarantee the hummingbirds will return or the flowers will be as lush.

Here are a few highlights of the summer of 2015:

                         Brian got his ham radio equipment set up (finally)

                                     Picked some yummy strawberries with grandkids

                        Buddy came for a visit and loved the countryside

                            Fairy garden keeps getting better each year

                       Said goodbye to my red bug with Aubree and Ethan

                            Visited Sue and had a marvelous bike ride 

                            Finally able to grow some beautiful zinnias

                                     Pool time with the grandkids

                                Lots of luscious tomatoes this year

So you see why it's difficult to say goodbye to such a wonderful summer because it was a good one!

Thought for the day:  When summer gathers up her robes of glory, and like a dream, glides away.      Sarah Helen Whitman

True Meaning of Success

If one were to base their definition of a successful person on what is seen and heard in advertising, movies, television, etc, not very many of us would feel like a success.   I prefer to base my level of success on a writing by Ralph Waldo Emerson.  If I go by the following, it would seem I am doing alright!

This has been on my refrigerator since the day I found it, and I refer to it often in order to keep out the noise from the world that wants me to feel like a failure.  So next time you are doubting whether or not you matter, compare yourself to Emerson's definition of success, not that of society.

Detour on My Journey

 Well, after almost three years away from the workplace, I started a temporary position about two weeks ago.  Due to my husband's work hours being down and my need for a different car, it seemed the only rational way to deal with current issues.  I have to admit it was a bit serendipitous that about the same time I started looking for either a very part time position or a temporary situation, an eye clinic posted an ad looking for some one to cover a maternity leave.  So while I drag my feet every day I go, I am at the same time grateful to be doing some thing I know and also know it won't be forever.  At least I didn't end up working at McDonalds or housekeeping at a motel.  Not that I look down on these places of employment at all; it's just not the place for me.

I am keenly aware of how nice it was to get up every day with the knowledge that I was in control of my choices.  Now when I have a day off, I cherish every single moment.  I love being able to go back to bed since I am an early riser.  I love having time to read or work outside in the garden.  I love doing things at my own pace.

Slowly I am getting back in the groove of doing things in the evening or morning before I leave.  So far I have still been able to put my clothes on the line before I go to work; just have to check the weather to make sure they won't get soaked.  

Right now three months seems like a long time, but in my life experience I know it will come and go very quickly and hopefully I can be back doing what I love the most.

Thought for the day:  I put all my genius into life, I put only my talent into my works.  Oscar Wilde

The Month of May

It's May, and I have a little more bounce in my step and happiness in my soul. May is absolutely my favorite month of the year.  I was born in May, but that has little to do with why I love it. I do, however, feel a bit blessed to know I arrived in this world during this most wonderful time of year.   It just seems to be almost perfect in that the temperature is warm, but not too warm; the early flowers are blooming and other plants are beginning to pop from the Earth; once again clothes are snapping in the wind as they hang on the clothesline, and the gloriously fresh breezes are wafting through the house.  Can it get any better than that?

Once again the backyard is filled with birds, and you can hear them singing from dawn to dusk.  Yesterday I saw my first hummingbird, and this morning there was an oriole attempting to drink from the hummingbird feeder.  The robins are hopping around searching for worms, and the mourning doves beautiful coo can be heard.  Life has once more come to give us pause and marvel at the beauty of nature.

Thought for the day:  "What potent blood hath modest May.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Connecting generations

A few months ago my granddaughter, Melody, was supposed to dress up for school.  She knew I had a pioneer dress that I had gotten in 1976 for the bicentennial.  She decided to dress as Laura Ingalls Wilder, an author that I have loved since I was very young.  I read all her books several times.  So I got the dress delivered, and it just melted my heart to see her in it.  Melody seems to share my longtime interest in pioneer life.

Above is a photo of me wearing the dress in 1976 and Melody in 2014.

In my quest for simplicity and minimalism, I have gotten rid of a few things. Therefore, I am sure glad I saved this dress.

Thought for the day:  It's surprising how much memory is built around things unnoticed at the time   Barbara Kingsolver