Snow Gives Way

Can it win? After we are amazed and awed, the novelty fading. We must get OUT. What for? Not sure, what is tomorrow's forecast?

Are you kidding me?

But i just had this figured out....

Christmas Play

Remember the Christmas pagents when you were a child? Ever been in one? I was in one, in kindergarten. I had to be a shepherd. That wasen't bad but the fabric for the costume looked ugly to me. grey and black striped wool sort of stuff.

That is what shepherds wear, I was told. OK. So what do I say? You dont say anything you just point your shepherd's crook at the star. What star? That tinsel thing? Like This? NO Higher! Higher! WHAM! Hit the stage with a resounding thud! All the other shepherds jumped. We trotted off. I don't remember the baby part.

Flowing Stream on The Blue Ridge Parkway

We drove up on the parkway the day after my mother-in-laws funeral, in the rain. To get perspective, to honor 95 years of a giving, loving woman. This stream reminded me of the seasons. the passing of time, the end of one era, the promise of another.

VOLUNTEER PUMPKINS

I love volunteers. They are the masters of surprise. Last winter I catapulted the 2 rotten halloween pumpkins to the end of the compost bin. The birds enjoyed the seed feast as intended, but they must have missed some...accidentally or on purpose, it was a good thing. There were 4 as a result, 2 little ones and 2 big ones. It was fun watching them turn from green to orange. It was wild how the vines grew so fast ! Sometimes over a foot a day. We had to keep the vines trimmed as they tried to come in the back door. We named her "Audrey" from little shop of horrors. "Has anyone watered Audrey today?" was the call when the weather got so dry in August. They will be returned to their favorite spot late Nov !

Got Plums ?

Our two plum trees were stressed. Ant wounds on the trunk that ran deep and oozy led to their assumption of a last hurrah. They bloomed and produced with abandon. Many branches died, others filled to breaking with fruit. I mixed up a cocktail of dish soap and canola oil and liberally sprayed on the trunk. Do not despair I whispered, just hang on and if this doesnt work I will get a professional. Come Feb. is a major prune, more spray, and prayers. In the meantime I am making jam, have copied reciepts for cobbler, pie, pudding, stewed, and canned. Why is goodbye so hard ?

Holiday Snow Beginning at our house

Peace

Sorrow at Christmas

Many members of my family through the years, have died at Christmas time. The most difficult it seemed was my younger sister Trish. A normal time of getting ready for church the day after Christmas in 1965 was turned into a nightmare by her totally unexpected brain hemorrhage. Stunned beyond belief, our brightest and best torn from us, we struggled through the holiday season each following year. Then there were others.
Last year at time a bit earlier than this, my mom lay dying of cancer. Hospice had been started, and we were leaving for Tennessee soon. As I sat in our quiet living room one Sunday before walking over to church, I pondered all of this. "She will die at Christmas time", I thought, "here we go again- where is God’s love?" Out of the quiet came a rush of love and understanding, a "light bulb" if you will, but in our family we call it a "Wa-La !" This was not the worst time of year for this to happen, it was the best. I had obviously not understood. It was the time of year when love and caring abound, when families really try and get along, when we are aware of and take action on a stranger’s need, when we share our traditions of love. It is also a time, I believe, when the door to heaven is open a crack and love flows more freely back and forth. It was the best time for sorrow because love of family, friends, community and heaven surrounded us. Later I shared my "wa-la" with my remaining sister, brother and sister-in-law over the phone. "Oh I get it !", "silence", and " Hmm.." were the responses I got, and I learned again that understanding comes to each in our own time.
Off to Tennessee we went. I was totally unprepared for my mother’s suffering. I climbed into her bed and held her "I can’t believe this" I said, "Me either" she said. "Mom I’ve had a wa-la" I said with all the courage I could muster. "Let’s hear it" she said. I told her and watched understanding and relief dance across her features. Mom died Christmas Eve day. Late, late that evening my brave sister-in-law got up in the night and wrapped the packages for her young children. Christmas morning found my dad with little ones playing at his feet in piles of wrapping paper, and love all round, knowing that mom did not hurt any more. As this Christmas approaches I have learned to wrap myself in that love, and do my best to wrap others.

Indiana Fall, the last Huzzah

I am always surprised in the fall. It's not like I don't know what is coming, but every year when I look at that clear blue sky and those vibrant sighs from the trees, I am in awe all over again.

When my season is changing

and it's time to shed my last bit of color

I want to startle and amaze

just one time

making people think

of the source of all

Knitting and Fibers

I have to brag on my sister Catherine.

She is so talented and so creative and is in business, at home. As a self employed cottage industry of authorship of knitting books, home manufactured tools and instructions, the designer of the now famous spindolyn, (a new drop spindle for spinning) and a fiber artist one wonders if she ever sleeps. http://www.knittinganyway.com/

The small farm alone is a full time job, with critters, and yard work and repairs. Her inventions are many-drop by her web site and see what is happening. You might also be able to buy her instructions for " I have to have a greenhouse now." or "what I have learned building and maintaining a filtered pond for when the spring runs dry/endangered frog habitat" You see our family is all about invention, and making lemonade when you are given lemons, and finding a better way, and experiments, and brainstorms. We are fascinated with most everything, and we love to learn. Feel free to follow our journey- it's never dull, and always changing.

The Kitten Fairy

Life comes at you fast. One minute you are the proud human of three adult cats, well cared for, sterile, complacent and satisfied (one supposes) And the very next minute The Kitten Fairy comes- out of the blue, depositing one in the front yard and one in the back. No mother, no other kittens, smelling of old dog house, but otherwise healthy. It's a mystery and it will remain so. They are a lot of trouble (kitten milk supplement- especially for the runt, black and white "Miss Moppet") and a lot of fun- the wild wacky antics of "Midas" as in King.

So here's to the Kitten Fairy ! We have absorbed them into the fold for now at least, and even Andy having taken the ever interesting job of chef for kittens, cracks a smile more often.

White Hollyhock

This Hollyhock just appeared one day. I have other colors, but I believe this one came from the old parsonage yard where the church parking lot now is and was bulldozed to the edge of the exhisting parsonage. This morning's sun was too beautiful not to capture blooms in the yard...

The birds always watch to see what is going on, and patiently wait for me to find their faces again after zooming in way too close. I am blessede

Simple Fountain

Found a large basin type shell at a yard sale today for $1.00. It was just what I needed to add an extra spill way and to provide the birds a place to drink. A 25 gallon tub, old black plastic sled (the shallow type) Rocks from home, NC, and various expeditions provide flow and sound. Conch shells from VA, freshwater driftwood from TN, 7 goldfish @ 27 cents each, and a $9.95 pump from harbor freight- Serenity.

Fountain Detail, enjoy quiet moments today, Mary

I won't grow up !

Outside our living room window is a bird feeder "rack" that's like a tall big saw horse where various bird feeders hang. There's also this little screwed in tuna can where I put nuts and treats for both birds and mammals. This baby Downy woodpecker was being fed by his parents, up and down the posts, first one parent and then the other, til he got tired and thought that ol tuna can being nest shape and snuggle size would be a great place to wait to be fed. When his parents saw this, they both stopped and stared, morsels in their beaks, disgust on their faces. Progress was being impeded by natal memory, and they had had about enough. When the morsels stopped coming, he looked around for his folks, took the hint and flew off. Can't blame a kid for trying, though. Sometimes I just feel like doing the same thing- cept I have WAY outgrown my tin can...

June is almost over

Garden Grows

LIFE IS LIKE A GARDEN

I have not posted on my blogs since March, and that is a bit telling so I will be up front. It's been one heck of a journey full of grief, joy, and change. After Mom's death during the Christmas holidays I sort of went into a tail spin. I gave myself two months to get it together. I thought I was being generous.- surely the riot of drama in day to day living would hold off a bit, let me hide, wait on me. Everyone would understand... Nope- Life just came zinging along, full tilt, and ever challenging.

You wake up, and morning still comes.

You ignore it and weeds take over.

You plan for better yields and the rains come drowning.

You discover the beauty moments, and you walk to the house with bug bites.

You forget for the moment your original plan, the garden sees this and takes advantage

BUT

While you are weeding you unearth something you have lost

And while you are planting, a friend stops by

While you are shopping some seeds you need are on sale

Taking out the garbage you see the robin's nest

Crying at dusk your tears nurture the earth

Watching the news those hungry children are not your grandchildren

And you think, the sun still rises, and the garden still grows, and you match your pace with the

rhythm of life and go on.

White Goose What Kind?

This wildlife area often has migrating birds. Any one have a clue as to what type of geese these are?

The Skaters Waltz

Today we went on a drive to a local wildlife area to look for signs of Spring. The Canada Geese looked active and cheerful. Upon closer examination we realized that they were "skating" on a thin layer of ice seemingly in unison. I heard the skaters waltz in my mind. The temperature was in the upper 40's. We are all ready for spring.

Snow Embraces All

The snow has been beautiful, and though the weather is very cold, it seems that I have seen more "playing" in the snow, by all creatures, this year 2009. "Delight" is my word for the month. I am looking for it in others, everywhere I go, and in everything I do.
May you find it also, Mary

Snow from Our House 2009

This is unedited, a first attempt, with what was playing on the stereo in the background. I'll get better, learn how to film without sound, splice, fade, insert dialogue or music...all takes time

The Sunset

Found this on pictures I took in Tennessee in December- A good reminder of the beauty at the end of the day

A Fleeting Moment

When you are little, time drags. Will you ever get big enough for a 2-wheel bike? How long till we get there? Is it my turn yet?

They are right you know about the older you get the more time flies. Mom died on Christmas Eve. In this photo the little girl on the right is mom. She and we never imagined how quickly it would pass. I hope it was a good journey for her, and that she never regrets the fight to try and make it last. For in her bravery in chemo and pain we all learned, yet again, how precious is life.

Thanks mom

Dried Apples

This year we finally have apples! Spring came and blossoms came and bees came. We didn't spray because we don't do that, so we have surface spots on some- but we don't care- they eat the same. Two little trees on a city lot, purchased at the little local grocery down the hill, five years ago. They were supposed to be two kinds, Macintosh and Jonathan- but they are both Jonathan. Someone must have switched the tags- don't care, we are thrilled.

Dried Apples 2

"Mom, you've got weeds, and more ripe tomatoes and...what is that?

"OK we'll get the low ones first and then set the ladder... climb? Maybe"

Daughter and Grandson figuring it out

Dried Apples 3

You know when family turns out to help, it is a good feeling. In our family, tasting is as important as picking. Sweat is a part of a job well done. Amazement that those little trees did so well, encourages the planning of apple sauce, apple butter, apple pies, dried apples, and the experiment for this fall...(you've got to experiment!) apple preserves. It should work right?

Dried Apples 4

So far this has been the easiest part of drying apples. Once they are peeled and sliced and on the trays of the dehydrator, you just turn that puppy on and relax. Soon the slight aroma of apples fills the kitchen, and Maynard and Andy come sniffing around to see if I have baked a pie. Maybe tomorrow....

Crabtree Falls NC

Summertime in NC

What a surprise- the beauty, majesty and sound of Crab Tree Falls! A long (for me) and hot hike rewarded us with scenes of liquid bliss. May you be refreshed!