ebenezer stories

A song for the year

2012-01-10T22:20:00.000-05:00

This year, 2012 has a word. It has a song, too.

I'm camping out, phrase by phrase, in the words of an old favorite, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

My sweet friend, Carla, pasted a page from an old hymnal with the words and music to this hymn on the inside of a beautiful paper covered journal she gave me, this year's journal for my morning scribblings. I read the words each day and turn them over and over, a phrase at a time, like this:

"Come thou fount of every blessing ..."

Would you be near to me - Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit - You, the giver of all good gifts, the ever flowing fountain that drenches and quenches out of your abundance, giving every good, every benefit, every blessing. Would you come ...

And that's just the first phrase. So rich.

Do you have a favorite hymn? One with true, beautiful, biblical words and a tune you know well. Have you read it carefully, considered the words, prayed it as you've sung? Might you consider learning all the words of a favorite hymn or song and making them your own this year. I'd love to know if you do.

Pausing

2012-01-04T23:21:00.000-05:00

"Many of us were struck by the way in which, when he was asked a question during a radio interview, Archbishop Rowan Williams said, 'May I take a moment?' For many of us who were listening, accustomed as we had become to the cut and thrust of the quick question and the immediate response in public discussion, this was a defining moment. It reminded us just how important it is to pause, in this as in any other context. It is to recall the role of reverence and respect, in a question, in another person, in a situation."

- by Esther de Waal in To Pause at the Threshold: Reflections on Living on the Border

Welcome 2012 - in two parts

2012-01-03T17:42:00.000-05:00

Part 1

In the last ten days of the year, we made our way through a merry gauntlet of weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas of course ... and arrived here in 2012, a bit weary but very grateful for the blessings of these days, which included ...

A lot of special, fun, family time

Kay and Thomas, Mama and Daddy

A wedding of friends who were just starting to date this time last year

Rick and Rachel

A visit from our nephew and the beginning of premarital counseling with him and his beautiful fiance

Our nephew, Gray (in red!) and beautiful fiance, Sasha (2nd from L)

grazing with everybody after a morning walk and football game

Many long walks, which helped to curb the effect of ...

cranberry mousse and Mamaliz's chocolate pound cake

So much good food
Beautiful cello music, courtesy of Jenn, who is here on an extended visit

Jenn, jamming

Friends dropping in
Cooking together
And a whole lot of dish washing!
Worship, music nights, quiet mornings

Mathew, reading at my parent's house

And now, the company has gone (except for Jenn, who is really family), the parties are over, the caramel shortbread is finished, and we are settling down to a new year.

Like many, I am not a big resolution maker. I like Susan's approach. Start over whenever you need to.

"I don't wait for a new day, a new week, a new month, or a new year to do it. God's mercies are new every morning, but they are also available every minute of every day." (if you click over to the link, scroll down to #8 to read more).

So, I have no major resolutions. I'd just like to walk more than I did last year, read more than I did last year, sew more, knit more, write more, speak more graciously, and love well. But those are not new resolutions. Simply pressing on ...

Part 2

Unlike some of my writing friends, I have never named a year. It seemed artificial for me before now. No one word seemed to capture what I was expecting, hoping for, anticipating. Perhaps it is because I am way too scattered in my thinking, going in so many directions at once. Perhaps I have simply felt too unclear that I could not presume to give a year a name. But this year, 2012, has a name.

It is a threshold year. I am standing at the door to a new season of life coming in the next few years, looking out. It's not time to step through, but the change is coming.

- Homeschooling will end. I've been at it for 25 years now and this year will be the last. Joel "graduates" with his co-op peers in May and though he'll still have one more year at home, he'll do college classes. I will write up his transcript, rearrange the bookshelves, and probably cry at some point. But I am not really sad that these days are over.

- Teaching will end - at least for a while, maybe for good. I've been teaching high school classes, biology and government, to other people's children for about five years and I've already decided not to teach again next year. What happens after that is still up in the air.

- Having children living at home will end, as Joel goes off to college in 2013.

-Having adult children living in the area will continue, I hope. Thomas and Kay are here and we sure hope they stay in the area, though of course, if they move for a job change at some point, we'll understand. Andrew graduates from college in May and moves back to the area to teach.

- I will have more grandchildren. *wink* None that I know of are "in the oven" but a Gramma can hope, right!

Of course, the future is always uncertain. I think these things will happen, but I don't really know what tomorrow holds. Still, I can only walk each day, looking ahead, knowing what I know now, stepping as far down the path as I can see, holding my expectations lightly. God's purposes and plans will unfold and I'm fine with that. I trust Him. I want to be soft and malleable, not brittle and fragile. He has brought unexpected changes before. If the changes that do come turn out to be very different from the ones I anticipate, well, I hope this year will have readied me for them, too.

So, 2012. Threshold year. Welcome.

the view out my front door

we have grass, at last, and it is very green

Tomorrow - a bit about pausing in a threshold year ...

The way of the swan

2011-12-29T09:17:00.000-05:00

When we looked toward Christmas this year, we also looked toward a week full of wedding and anniversary activities and celebrations.

Last Friday, we attended the reception of our friends, Helen and John, who were married nine months ago, but delayed their formal reception until Helen's parents could come from China.

Today, Coty and I celebrate our 32nd anniversary. (Happy Anniversary, sweetheart. I love you more every year!) We are putting off our celebrating til things quiet down around here a little bit, because tonight ...

we attend the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner for our friends, Rick and Rachel, and tomorrow evening is their wedding.

Also, tomorrow our nephew Gray and his fiance, Sasha, are coming to visit from Virginia. Coty will be officiating at their wedding next September and we are going to spend some with them going through some of the material that we normally use when we do premarital counseling with couples at our church.

Finally, on Sunday, New Year's Day, Thomas and Kay celebrate their first anniversary.

In honor of all of these special days and special people, a few lines from a poem I read recently:

"On the Marriage of friends"

by Greg Delanty

So you have chosen the way of the swan ...

Did you know the life-coupling way
of the swan is also that of the crow?
And there'll be crow black days
you'll caw at each other with blind gusto.

But there'll be times when you'll sing
the duet of the black-collared barbet,
with the first part of the song sung
by one and the second by the mate.

We wish you now many such duet days
and sing for you like the red-eyed vireo
who sings nonstop through the summer blaze
on this day you take the way of the swan & crow.

*Please do click over to the links, if you want to know why the poet chose these particular birds. If you're interested, I read the poem in a lovely little book called Bright Wings which is edited by Billy Collins and illustrated by David Allen Sibley.

A little birthday free verse ...

2011-12-27T09:21:00.000-05:00

On this day 23 years ago

You entered the world

Late.

But once it was your time

You came at record speed

Scaring the midwives,

Scaring your daddy,

Making me focus on the task at hand

by relaxing while others

did the worrying for me.

Cord around your neck,

Alice's expert hands

Helped you through,

and then oxygen blowing on your face

While I shivered uncontrollably

and ate Aunt Laura's goody balls,

Blankets heaped high.

If any of us had been prophets

at your birth,

Instead of greatly relieved,

and overjoyed

parents

and helpers,

We would have said ...

"Thomas is here.

Let the fun begin."

sorry for the dark, fuzzy photo, but I just love the laughter and the expression on Thomas's face!

Happy 23rd birthday, Thomas.

Thank you for all the fun, the laughter and excitement; for the way you love Kay and all the obvious intentional ways you show it; for the ways you love your family and your thoughtfulness and devotion; for reaching out to others - organizing football games for younger kids, late night gas station Christmas parties, and so much more. Thank you for the ways you have embraced and shared learning, for the ways you enrich the lives of the people you work with; for your insight and compassion, your hard work and your heart.

I'm a very thankful Mother - though I still think it's funny when you call me by that name!

I love you.

Hugs,

We wish you ...

2011-12-25T01:32:00.000-05:00

OK, line up everybody. That's hilarious, Kay.

Where's Coty. Stand there, Thomas ...

Hold on just a minute while I ...

stick out my tongue, clean my teeth, scratch my neck.

Oh, brother! This family is not very together here ...

Could we just line up. La di da di da ... look at that airplane.

Guys, turn around. Look at the camera.

We are never going to get this done. There goes another airplane.

What'd you say, Joel?

I don't know about the rest of these clowns,

but Clara and I are ready.

Quick! Snap it!

We're (almost) all smiling and looking in the same direction with our eyes opened.

As, I was saying ...

We wish for you ...

the gifts that Jesus gives,

Joy unspeakable,

Stunning grace,

Sure hope,

Love without bounds.

So many reasons to celebrate.

Merry Christmas, all!

This song ...

2011-12-20T07:33:00.000-05:00

... sung so beautifully in church week before last by Amy and Albert, is part of the music in our home and in my head these days:

O Savior of our fallen race,
O brightness of the Father's face,
O Son who shared the Father's might
Before the world knew day or night,

O Jesus, very light of light,
Our constant star in sin's deep night,
Now hear the prayers your people pray
Throughout the world this holy day.

Remember Lord of life and grace,
How once to save our fallen race
You put our human vesture on
And came to us as Mary's son.

For from the Father's throne you came
His banished children to reclaim,
And earth and sea and sky revere
The love of Him who sent you here.

O Christ, Redeemer, virgin-born,
Let songs of praise Your name adorn,
And with the Father we adore
And Holy Spirit evermore!

You came downYou came downTo a stable and a manger,Not a kingdom or a crown.

You can listen to it here.

The moon breaking through, on an early morning walk last week

*anonymous (6th century in Latin as "Christe Redemptor Omniam") translated by Gilbert Doan, chorus (it italics) by Andy Gullahorn and Jill Phillips

A six (plus) child day

2011-12-19T22:30:00.000-05:00

I got to speak with every one of my children today!

First, we skyped with Erin and Clara. While we were talking to them, my cell rang and it was Jonathan calling from India to ask if I wanted to get on skype. I suggested that since Erin was online, that he and Kandyce talk with her first and then skype with us, so that's what we did. It was funny to have J and K telling me that Clara told them she was going to get a package from me, a fact I had just told her minutes before. The news went from North Carolina to New York state to Tamil Nadu state in India and back to NC in the space of a few minutes. This is still rather mind-boggling to me.

Andrew and Joel are here, Matthew arrived this afternoon, and Thomas came over for dinner. So that makes six!

In addition, one of our "adopted" daughters, Jenn, arrived yesterday - that's why it was a six (plus) day.

And now, everyone who's coming home this year is here. (except Kay wasn't here tonight - she had to babysit, but of course she'll be here - the first Christmas for T and K as a married couple!)

Thomas and Joel

Matthew, Jenn, and Andrew

What to do the first night we're together? Finish decorating the tree, drink Russian tea, eat treats, and play a rousing game of Pictionary.

Long, slow exhale ...

2011-12-16T16:08:00.000-05:00

Done. For a little while. (except for grading two tests and finalizing the bio syllabus for the spring - but we won't talk about that right now).

Classes are over. One son is home. Another is coming soon. My house is clean.

We had a very lovely visit with Missy, John, and the boys, who pulled in last night after their concert was over. We visited over hot cider and popcorn and I loved that three of my big boys and one daughter-in-law were here to just hang out, too. We started again this morning over coffee and breakfast and lingered long. What a perfect way to start our break.

I have stayed in my pj's all day. This is unheard of for me ... but after a very busy fall when it seems that I had either a soccer game, a pressing class deadline, or some other looming time demand, the pj's are a reminder to myself that it's time to breathe out.

After our friends left, I sat with Andrew and Kay and drank tea and finished a scarf.

Then, I watched Cranford and sewed.

I might change out of my pj's in a little bit and go for a slow walk.

There is no hurry for anything today.

Smells: Fragrant and Otherwise ...

2011-12-15T00:11:00.002-05:00

I woke up early and started cutting potatoes and cauliflower for soup. Made banana bread, too, so that by 9:00 when my students arrived, the house smelled really nice.

My biology students, however, changed that! Today was a dissecting day. Sheep plucks which means the sheep heart, lungs, trachea and associated connective tissue. By the end of two labs and classes, the house didn't smell so good. There are occasional drawbacks to lab at the kitchen table. I did assure my students that the plastic tablecloth with roosters and French food names is only used on biology class day.

After classes and dissections were done, Cameryn came to the rescue. My young friend and I baked Christmas cut-out sugar cookies. I hadn't done that yet this season, so was happy for the chance to spend some time with Cameryn and bake. Cam and I mixed the dough and while it chilled, she helped me pull the garland and a few other Christmas decorations out of the attic. Then she helped me hang the garland over the door by standing in the yard and telling me, "It's a little low on that side. No, still a little longer. Now it's drooping there." Til finally, I got it just right and she gave her approval. It's nice to have a 13 year old girl with a very good eye around.

Then our dough was chilled and we rolled and cut - Santas, bells, stars, and circles, donkeys, Christmas trees, a whole little nativity scene in sugar cookies, teddy bears and snowmen. Cookies went in the oven for 8 minutes and the house smelled good again.

Happy birthday, Joel

2011-12-12T11:04:00.004-05:00

On this day, 17 years ago, we received a very special gift ...

When he was born, Joel was our biggest baby yet. He weighed 9 pounds, 15 ounces and I remember Grammie's remark, "Look at his jowls." He certainly had plenty of baby fat.

I remember a little boy who wouldn't give up. Most of our friends and family know the story of the persistent asker,

"Mommy, can I have a cookie."
"No, sweetie."

(she didn't get what I want, I'll make sure she understands)
"Mommy, can I have a cookie."
"No, sweetie."

(there are a lot of people around here, maybe she doesn't know I'm talking to her, try again)
"Mommy, can I have a cookie."
"Not now sweetie.

(maybe she can't understand me. I'll slow down)
Mommy, can. I. have. a. cookie."
"No, sweetie. It's almost dinner."

(maybe slower and louder will get my point across)
"Mommy, can. I. have. a. cookie."
"Sweetie, what is it about no you don't understand?"

(what is it about me having a cookie you don't understand? wait, did you say dinner? oh, well that changes things. dinner works for me)

I remember a bigger boy who ran almost a mile up a hill at the end of a long walk in Cameroon, just because someone wondered if he could do it.

I remember a boy who made up a game with baseball cards and dice and played for hours, keeping score sheets and stats in looseleaf notebooks, mystifying the rest of us with his complicated rules and lightning computation skills.

I remember a boy who made a smashing first impression on our very first high school co-op day with a whole new group of peers by crashing into a chain-link fence as he ran, eyes gazing upward, trying to catch the grape, thrown high in the air, in his mouth.

I remember a boy who would ask, almost every day, "Are we doing anything today?"

I remember a boy who played the policeman, the D.O.W.N.'s delivery man, the screamer, and more in brother's video productions.

I remember a boy who sat outside reading on a chilly day, who was happy to get a box of used books for Christmas.

I remember a boy very eager to play soccer with the big boys, doubling on the middle school and varsity teams, content to practice with the big guys and sit the bench, just for a chance to get in the game.

And now, I know ...

A young man who loves the Lord,
loves his family and friends,

works hard,
plays hard ...

that's Joel, in green, with the N, at last night's NCAA College Cup

and still is happy when he gets a cookie.

Happy birthday, buddy. We love you.

Can we say ...

2011-12-06T21:34:00.000-05:00

Cheeeeeeeeeeze!

Missing this little girl,

but happy for time she gets to spend

with her very special Olson grandparents

49th Tuesday

2011-12-06T15:34:00.000-05:00

When I started this post, it was still Monday ... just barely. Now it's Tuesday afternoon and I've spent most of the day grading biology lab reports and AP government free response questions (frq's) and trying to figure out how to weight the grades and figure averages for the semester so far. This is the part of teaching I really don't like. But I have reason to give thanks! My former professor husband came down and helped me figure it all out and set up a spreadsheet for me. So, I am very thankful for ...

2123. an experienced grader, spreadsheet whiz, and patient husband to walk me through it!

I had a whirlwind of a weekend, full of soccer and boys and soccer families and college coaches and sunshine and soccer. Yeah, soccer.

Joel's club team played in a college showcase tournament and won all three of their games, all shut-outs. It was very fun to watch the guys playing together again - the first time since last spring. If this weekend was any indication, this is going to be an exciting soccer season.

Wait, you're saying. I thought soccer season just ended. That's funny. Soccer season never ends. Not around here. It just shifts to a different team, different fields, different opponents.

I was happy to get away this weekend and really have nothing to focus on but following my mapquest directions (no, I don't have a gps. I'm old fashioned that way), getting to fields on time, taping Joel's ankle, and watching a ball get kicked around a field. Sometimes it's good for your brain to step away from all the normal activities and do something completely different for a couple of days. Very restful.

I didn't think about sheep heart dissections or campaign finances or what to cook for dinner. I didn't vacuum or do laundry. Wait, I take that back. I did wash Joel's green uniform in the hotel bathtub before the third game, using his very manly scented body wash. Quite a fragrant uniform in that last game. Maybe that's why he did so well - he scored the only goal in that game on a header from a corner kick. If you don't know what that means, then you probably don't keep a fold-up chair in your trunk or have a shoe rack outside your door filled with cleats. You probably don't shout, "Unlucky" or "Clear it!" either.

Anyway, I had a wonderful weekend with my #5 son and found myself over and over again feeling incredibly thankful for ...

2124. the opportunity Joel has to play
2125. his health and strength - gifts from God
2126. the "squeaky clean", above reproach reputation he has among his teammates
2127. a nice man at Auto Zone who assured me that the check engine light wasn't a problem (he was right)
2128. safe travel
2129. time to get to know parents and teammates better
2130. seeing Joel reading his Bible in the hotel room

2131. trustworthiness, yes I let him stay in Chapel Hill and drive back on his own to Raleigh after the Carolina game we went to on Saturday evening. He went to dinner with a friend who just happened to be a girl (not a girlfriend, though he got plenty of grief from his teammates!)
2132. teamwork - among players and families
2133. an athlete husband/father who understands and encourages
2134. gorgeous, perfect sunny weather all weekend

Shortly after we got home, it was time to head to church for the Children's Choir Christmas program and potluck. I sat in my seat, holding a friend's six month old giving thanks for ...

2135. that precious little guy on my lap and his beautiful mother
2136. sweet, young voices
2137. a dedicated, creative, patient, talented, fun choir director
2138. people who cook and share delicious food - I've always loved potlucks!
2139. hugs from little people

I was mostly a spectator this weekend - a relaxed, happy, thankful spectator. It was good. Yesterday and today, it's back to work. And that's good, too.

What an adoring uncle will do ...

2011-11-29T09:17:00.002-05:00

Giddy-up, Uncle Joel
This little girl knows how to ride!

48th Tuesday

2011-11-29T09:14:00.001-05:00

The sun is slanting early rays across the lush green of new grass planted this fall. It is still warm-ish here, almost balmy the last couple of days. Last evening when I stepped outside barefoot, I heard the wrens talking, and this morning, the cardinals, robins, and crows. If I didn't know better, I might guess that we'd skipped winter altogether. I'm sure it will come.

I am still sort of basking in the wonderful-ness of our Thanksgiving trip to Virginia and giving thanks for special time with my children:

2111. Cooking with Erin and Grammie
2112. A long walk through Ft. Hunt park and along the parkway bike-path with Kay
2113. Reading Alfie books (oh, I love those books!) with Clara
2114.Seeing cousins re-unite and enjoy each other on the football field, playing fish-bowl, walking, talking, laughing, just being together

2115. A long evening conversation with one of our engaged nephews and his fiance with five married couples joining in to share out of our 132 collective years marriage wisdom. Graym and Sasha (below) will be married next September.

2116. Walks in the neighborhood

2117. Sitting long at the table on Thanksgiving evening with family

2118. A fantastic trip to the zoo

Clara's first view of the lions when we arrived - pretty excited! And, of course,

the pandas... they were so up close and active this time.

2119. Watching the adoring uncles play with Clara and seeing her little fun personality coming out more and more

2120. Giving haircuts with crazy buzzing electric clippers to Matthew and Andrew

2121. Safe journeys to and fro for all the travelers

2122. Getting back into the routine of reading, studying, preparing for classes, cooking ...
2123. Anticipating ... so much.

Over the river and through the traffic ...

2011-11-22T23:18:00.000-05:00

...and we made it to Grammie's house. I'm very glad Coty likes to drive because I would not have enjoyed navigating the traffic in the mist and dark. But we're here, and now I am waiting for a car load to arrive from North Carolina and a truck to pull in from New York state. The boys and Kay from NC and Erin, Luke, and Clara from NY may all be pulling in here at the same time - right around 2 AM.

The next few days will have plenty of happy, noisy chaos and some quiet times, too. Clara will get to see all the people whose names she's been practicing. We will eat and talk and laugh a lot. We'll go for walks and play some games. There will be football on Thanksgiving morning and many hands to prepare food for a crowd. We'll squeeze everyone into a picture and hope we all smile or at least look half-way decent at the same time. On Friday, some of us will go to the zoo.

Five of our six children will be here. All but two of the twelve cousins. Some spouses, fiances, and a few other assorted relations and friends. This will be a full house.

I am very thankful to be here. Thankful for the chance to see family members we don't see often enough, thankful for the gift of gathering.

The Office

2011-11-17T17:40:00.001-05:00

No. Not that one.

The office I'm referring to used to look sort of like this, (this link should take you to a photo of William F. Buckley's home office). Coty's office is considerably smaller, with far fewer lamps and lights and with more paper on the floor. Only now the paper is all gone.

I have spent the past three weeks, while Coty was away in India, digging everything out of his office, sorting, tossing, painting, moving, building, purchasing, sewing, and totally remaking the space in which he spends much of his working time.

It was a super secret operation. He didn't have a clue. Oh, a few other people knew, and some of them were were worried on his behalf. What if I threw out something he needed? What if I got rid of important papers? What if he couldn't find things? All valid questions. All I can say is I tried very hard to be careful in my tossing. I examined every piece of paper before it went in the trash can. The ones I didn't throw away are neatly stacked in another room awaiting his perusal.

Special thanks go to Thomas, Kay, and Joel who helped me move every book and bookshelf out of the room; to Chandra who came with her stud finder, level, and drill and helped me install the double track shelf brackets; and to Amber and Carla who gave moral support and design advice and approval. Thanks to them, I left the shelves their natural color with only a satin polyurethane finish.

Just in time for his return home yesterday, the reading lamp was mounted on the wall above his new chair, the last pictures framed and hung, and the trash can emptied. When I was finished, I just sat in his chair and looked around the room at the pictures of our family, at the poem Erin wrote for him before her wedding and the pictures of the two of them together, at the track and cross-country awards, the photos from India and Kenya, and the map of the world.

I felt like it is finally right. It is a fitting place for Coty now. It reflects this man who loves his family so deeply and wisely, who serves the church so diligently and faithfully, who goes to far-away places because he is asked to come, to teach pastors who are hungry for greater depth and knowledge of God's word.

It is really a lovely room now. Would you like to see? (sorry, the pictures are a little dark. They were taken early this morning)...

Looking in from the hallway.

The tray table is one Coty brought home from Pakistan years ago, the fly whisk a gift to him from one of his African students during the Williams days; the chair and picture rail, Ikea; the pillow, my creation

Looks a little different doesn't it, Rachel!

New reading light, new curtains easy to slide on cafe rings ...

closet door removed and shelves repositioned to make a printer and office supplies closet with...

paper supplies cleverly concealed!

I do love this new curtain fabric. It looks Indian to me.

Thank you, Hancock Fabrics for having it on sale just when I needed it!

The pictures to the right of the curtain are of

Coty's first time living in Kenya - before I knew him!

A young Coty with his host father,

and the family of one of the teachers he worked with.

I love these old pictures.

new computer desk (thank you, Salvation Army) and more family pictures...

and perhaps my favorite part,

built in wall-to-wall bookshelves across the whole 10 foot width of the wall.

The throw across the back of his office chair is one that

Thomas and Andrew brought back from Burkina Faso

in 2007.

And now, I think I'll make a cup of tea and go up and sit with my sweetheart...

45th Monday

2011-11-07T22:42:00.000-05:00

Today was a long day... so long it felt like two days. Now, I'm sitting at my desk with a cup of hot cocoa and the space heater blowing on me to thaw out my chilled body (it was cold on the sidelines at soccer practice tonight!) I'm breathing a tired happy sigh and giving thanks for ...

two college visits in one day
a meeting with a coach that was way longer and more personal than expected
lots to think about and the peace of knowing the Lord will lead
a great group of soccer moms and dads, reunited at the first club practice tonight
Joel's club coach and words of encouragement
safe travels yesterday and today
time with my folks and Andrew
google voice and cheap phone calls to India
a short conversation with Coty's Indian host last night and laughter with him over Coty's walking speed!
the children at Bapatla - Coty gets to see them again this week
friends - I am really so very thankful for my friends
beautiful yarn and knitting in the car while Joel drives
books - so many on my list right now
my friend, Lisa's safe return to the states for medical care for a high risk pregnancy
the most gorgeous fall day imaginable
mums and pumpkins and gingko trees blazing golden
Mars Hill Audio that I've started listening to again, and Ken Myers recovery from a heart attack
The prospect of a quiet day at home tomorrow
The gift of rest

#'s 2091 - 2110

The Friend

2011-11-03T15:20:00.000-04:00

"Finest and rarest blossom,
at a happy moment springing
from the freedom of a lightsome, daring, trusting spirit,
is a friend to a friend."

-from the poem "The Friend"

by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

in Prayers from Prison

Thankful today for my friends, scattered far and near-at-hand, new and long-time, young and young-at-heart.

Welcome November

2011-11-01T22:27:00.000-04:00

I guess.

I must confess. This is not my favorite month. It is the month when ...

...the cold creeps in and the golden glow of hickories in the sun out back disappears.

...the pool cover goes on and I look out my kitchen window at a black eyesore.

...I am always chilly in the house, unless I'm bundled under my duvet with the heating pad on, sitting in front of a space heater, or wrapped in sweaters and shawls.

BUT, I will turn my thoughts away from the complaints and give thanks!

Because it is also the month of...

... tea and comfort food

...blustery walks and flying geese

...seeing almost all of my children and much of my extended family at Thanksgiving.

These are days of more quiet reflection as thoughts turn to the gifts we have been given and how we might more fully give back.

This November, I join one dear friend in paying closer attention to how I spend money, especially on food, and giving more away. This could mean not just giving money, but sharing more meals with others - friends, family, and strangers. I join many others in making this a month, not just a day, of thanksgiving.

Yes, welcome November. I may grow to love you more this year.

Multicolored rice and grains from the Korean grocery

Part 2: Soccer never ends ... and I give thanks

2011-10-31T18:19:00.001-04:00

Actually, that previous blog post didn't start out as a defense of the large amount of time we are devoting to Joel's soccer. I had another intention, which is the point of this post.

We are on the "soccer in college" journey. Joel would very, very, very, very much like to play soccer in college. And so, the search is on to find the right school that is interested in him that is also a good fit for him, academically, socially, geographically, spiritually.

It isn't easy and it's time consuming. It's also exciting and a matter that we are committed to bathing in prayer.

This past week, Joel had a major decision to make that affects the way he will be spending his time in the coming months. It was a hard decision. Coty wasn't here to talk with him about it and we wanted Coty's input. He was a standout college athlete in track and cross-country (10,000 m., #2 all-time) back in the day, and had an experiential perspective that we wanted to hear on the looming decision. Thank goodness for email. We forwarded messages back and forth and this morning, Coty sent us a lengthy email with some words of counsel. I share them with you, because on this Monday, the day of the week I often add to my endless list of thanks, I am incredibly thankful for the wise words of a far away Daddy:

"We clearly must strive for excellence in Christlikeness, in general and in particular in the roles we occupy: son, employee, friend, and (later) husband and father. Striving for excellence in a secondary area – like running or soccer – can glorify God if we pursue it with the rightattitude, keeping His glory central, and showing that our success in this area is a parable of our striving after Him. Furthermore, such a pursuit of excellence can teach us and others valuable lessons about the pursuit of excellence in the mandatory areas, particularly when we are young.There is great value in making a decision to pursue a goal, and then refusing to drift along with the crowd but saying no to many other activities in order to attain the goal. Outside our family, you can see the present impact of a past devotion to athletics in the way that MrStout is approaching his fight with cancer.

But striving for excellence in these secondary areas comes at a cost. It means saying no to many other possible uses of your time, including time spent with friends and time spent on other forms of physical activity. With the exception of the minuscule number of professional athletes, itcomes at a financial cost: spending money to participate and making less money than you otherwise would because of the time you devote to the sport. And while the lessons learned from such striving can be valuable, there may be other lessons from other ways of spending time that would be yet more valuable.

What would striving for excellence in soccer look like? I don't know exactly, but let me describe what striving for excellence in running looked like for me:

No other sports during the competitive season that had the slightest possibility of harming my performances. I remember as captain of the track team at Davidson berating another runner who twisted his ankle playing basketball and was thus unable to participate in a meet. I was incredulous that any supposedly serious athlete would let down his teammates in thatway.

Dropping my interest in other sports. When I was in 7th and 8th grade, I was an avid fan of football, basketball and baseball. Once I began to take running seriously in high school, I had to cut out more and more of the time I spent following those sports. Once I went to college I followed Davidson basketball but basically otherwise quit devoting time to following those sports.

Cutting out all watching of TV. Again, this progressed over time: cutting back while in HS after I started running and then, at Davidson, never watching.

Being very selective about non-academic, non-running activities. I did participate in cultural events, parties, dating (for which you should be thankful - my note: Coty and I met his senior year in college, when he was a very serious, successful and gaunt college runner), and selected service organizations. But I had to budget time carefully to achieve both academic and athletic goals, and I did much less of these types of activities than if I had been just a casual runner in college.

If you have a child who is making a similar decision, perhaps these words will be helpful. Striving for excellence in any pursuit comes with a cost. We are carefully, thoughtfully, and prayerfully counting it with Joel right now. Coty ended his letter with these words:

"I love and am proud of you. Should you decide to pursue excellence in soccer I will get considerable joy out of being among your biggest fans. But I will also get great joy out of your becoming what God intends you to be if you strive for excellence elsewhere."

As we set out on this new soccer journey, I am thankful today for:

2091. The man who walks with us every step of the way, who never ever sits down on the sidelines when a game is going on, who can retell every one of his son's outstanding plays, who delights in every one of his son's athletic accomplishments, but who knows that soccer is not life. Colossians 3:1-4

Part 1: Soccer never ends...

2011-10-31T17:40:00.003-04:00

...but right now, that's OK, because when it is the passion of your last child at home, you really quite enjoy being immersed in it. At least, I do.

I know all of my other children may be thinking ... You didn't let ME play club sports. You didn't spend that much time with MY college search. You didn't go to that many of MY games. You didn't buy ME Sonic drinks at Happy Hour. True. True. True. True.

But then, back then there were more of you. My attentions were divided. There was cross-country and horseback riding and theatre and basketball and piano and cello and guitar and football and orchestra and more theatre and soccer and well, we had to eat sometime, too. With six, then five, then four, then three, then two at home ... well, a mom just can't do it all, can she?

I was so far outnumbered. Six of you. One of me. My time was carved up into little tiny pieces. So, no, you probably didn't get as much attention, my dear older children. But I think you turned out pretty well, even without strawberry limeades.

You must also remember, that back then, when Joel was a baby and then a cute little kid, he, too, was outnumbered and outranked by all of YOU! He didn't have a chance to get his way or whine. He couldn't get away with ANYTHING. Because YOU wouldn't let him. And that was probably good for him.

But, now that you are all gone from home, I guess it's his turn for a little attention.

to be continued...

Kitchen table lab

2011-10-27T17:32:00.000-04:00

Did you wonder what we dissected?

It pig large intestine - from our local international market. Some people eat them. I teased the kids that after we were done with our dissections, we'd stir fry our results. They were not interested.

This was the first real dissecting practice for some of my students and they rose to the challenge. They have, for the most part, gotten over the "yuck" factor. They worked with scalpel, scissors, and tweezers and did a great job exploring their specimens. They prepared microscope slides and I heard several "oh, wows!" Always love that.

I'm pretty sure that most of the biology kids' moms are happy for my kitchen, not theirs, to be the lab. I'm thankful for the privilege to watch these kids explore and learn as they reach (some of them) a bit beyond their comfort zones. Maybe these kitchen table experiences will be a springboard for some of them. My goal is to engage and encourage. This story inspired. (Be sure and click both "listen" boxes).

A few links

2011-10-25T23:54:00.000-04:00

Ann on becoming a velveteen mother.

Jonathan's thoughts on development in light of Occupy Wall Street. (J is my oldest son, currently living and working in India).

Exercise and the brain - our local NPR station's morning talk show program - aired yesterday.

I want to make this.

I'm taking Thomas and Kay's quilt here soon, so it will be finished by their 1st anniversary!

My friend, Missy, is writing beautifully on living the beloved life. I suggest you scroll down and start with Day 1.

I miss dancing and much more with a certain little someone!

Coty flew through Chennai and met up with Jonathan and then flew on to Visakhapatnum and then by road to Srikakulum. (Scroll out on the map to see just where this is in India).

That's enough for now. It's bedtime... and tomorrow is quite a full day. Biology students come early and we get to dissect a ___________ tomorrow. So, I really must get to bed.

Childlight USA

2011-10-23T21:24:00.000-04:00

I have the privilege this week of writing again for the Childlight USA blog. You can find the post entitled "Getting Ready for High School Science: Wonder and Order" here. If you're interested in learning more about CLUSA, an organization that exists to recover and promote the philosophy and practice of Charlotte Mason, visit their website here.

The kitchen table lab

The adoring uncles

2011-10-19T17:44:00.001-04:00

Our little Miss Clara is the happy niece of a bunch of adoring uncles. Or un-tles, as she says. C's and K's are T's in her lingo these days. Three of the uncles and one aunt were here to dote on her this visit and she enjoyed them to the fullest.

Watching Thomas the Tank Engine on Netflix and playing games with Un-tle Joel

Reading books and picking up acorns with Un-tle Andrew

Playing catch with Un-tle Thomas and trains with Aunt Tay

It sure was fun watching Clara with her uncles and aunt this visit. Can't wait to see them all together, plus some, at Thanksgiving.

Bake Day

2011-10-18T21:29:00.001-04:00

I love being in the kitchen with my girls. Being as far apart as we are it doesn't happen enough for my liking. So, while Erin was here we planned a bake day with Kay. Wish you could have been here too, Kandyce!

Aren't they beautiful. Erin on the left, and d-i-l, Kay, who brought over her Kitchenaid to help us make...

... homemade cardamon marshmallows to go on our homemade chai masala tea graham crackers which we used to make chai tea s'mores. Seriously delicious. Really, Kandyce, you should have been here! Sorry, no s'more pictures. You'll just have to take a look at the finished product and recipe here.

Our marshmallow recipe came from here. We added about a tablespoon of cardamon powder to it. I haven't roasted one of these yet, but I am thinking that also will be a real treat since I do love roasted marshmallows and cardamon.

We also made butterscotch oatmeal cookies ...

... and these,

which were Kay's recipe find of the day,

Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies. Recipe here.

We were good. We didn't eat all of those cookies by ourselves. We shared. Boxes got packed and sent off to one lonely husband/daddy in New York state, and two hungry college students, Matthew in Minneapolis and Erin's friend, Lauren, at Messiah.

Yesterday, Erin and I made these Mini Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake bites. Ours didn't turn out quite as pretty as the picture in the recipe. They sort of fell apart when I tried to take them out of the muffin tins. Kay's camera helped, though. Lots nicer photo than mine would have done. In true Julia Child fashion, we drizzled them with homemade caramel sauce which gussied them up nicely and cried, "Who's to know..."

OK, you may be thinking that's a whole lot of sweets you people are eating. Well, yes, it is. But we are following the rule. Michael Pollan's rule #39, that is.

"Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself.

If you made all the french fries you ate, you would eat them much less often, if only because they're so much work. The same holds true for fried chicken, chips, cakes, pies, and ice cream. Enjoy these treats as often as you're willing to prepare them -- chances are good it won't be every day."

He's right about that. I wouldn't make these goodies every day, but when my girls are here, it's cause for celebration and some memorable treats!

Gramma's also happy ...

2011-10-13T14:41:00.001-04:00

to have a stroller buddy on my walks this week.

Shall we just say ...

2011-10-11T23:53:00.000-04:00

...Gramma's pretty happy right now.

Forty-first Monday

2011-10-11T01:11:00.000-04:00

From one of my favorite books:

"It seems to me sometimes as though the Lord breathes on this poor gray ember of Creation and turns it to radiance - for a moment or a year or the span of a life. And then it sinks back into itself again, and to look at it no one would know it had anything to do with fire or light ... But the Lord is more constant and far more extravagant ... Wherever you turn your eyes, the world can shine like transfiguration. You don't have to bring a thing except a little willingness to see." -from Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

I have often been reminded that giving thanks changes the way I see the world around me. "The world can shine" when I turn my eyes toward the Giver of all good gifts. So, in the wee hours of this Tuesday morning, I give thanks for:

2080. Erin and Clara safely here, a last minute airport switch to a direct flight, and a sleepy little girl blinking her eyes hard in the car on the ride home to try and stay awake.

2081. Walking through difficult days with dear friends - a cancer diagnosis and a job loss - and seeing their trust tested and strengthened in the trials.

2082. Caring shown by many, hands-on.

2083. A back porch full of people.

2084. An incredible celebration meal brought by friends.

2085. Silence, which can be welcome or hurtful, depending on the circumstances.

2086. Deep conversations with some of my children the last few days.

2087. The communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins

2088. New Jersey words (my friend, C knows!)

2089. A stretch of days to put aside work, and play with play dough, read books, and push a stroller with a very special passenger!

2090. Praying with two very special women.

Now about that never ending front yard project...

2011-10-04T14:53:00.004-04:00

Last fall I dug out a bunch of scraggly azaleas and put in some new foundation plantings (pieris and gumpo azaleas) and shade perennials (coral bells, hostas, epimedium, ferns, and a few others). They did ... well ... just ok through the summer. I lost a couple of gumpo azaleas to the heat and the increased sun that got to the front bed once we cut down a massive oak. So, time to rethink front shade garden. Parts of it are now not so shady!

But the part that is still quite shady has become lovely with the recent rains and cooler weather. And I've been very pleasantly surprised by the "clowns" that have volunteered.

These enchanting little flowers (BHG's description) were not ones I had planted this year. They are torenias, also known as wishbone flowers. BHG says they have clown faces. They sprouted from seeds leftover from last summer's front-of-the-border-planting. I couldn't be happier. They are sooo pretty and fill in some bare spots where the other perennials have not quite filled out yet. I can't wait to see how long they will keep blooming and sure hope they will volunteer again next year.

Now that I've lived with the front garden re-do for almost a year, I'm seeing spots that really need larger, more substantial plants to give the whole front area more structure. Because I love their look and because I have one beautiful rhododendron at the corner of the house, I'm thinking of filling a couple of the gaps with them. Their leathery leaves stay pretty all year. Thoughtful pruning can shape them nicely and their flowers are showy, in an understated sort of way. Does that make sense?

They also make me think of the mountains and just make me feel cooler - not cooler as in hip, but cooler as in a walk along a gurgling mountain brook, cooler as in how you feel when you don your sweater and sit in a rocker on the porch, cooler as in waking as the sun comes over the ridge and smelling the fresh mountain air. I don't live in the mountains but thankfully some of our mountain species will do just fine right here in the Piedmont. Yes, I think I'll plant rhododendrons.

This is another spot that is undergoing transformation very, very slowly. It has sat ugly and bare, filled with stones and eroding, covering the driveway with fine silt every time it rains hard. Last weekend, I dug out the stones, added some compost, and moved a few flowering impatiens (they won't last too much longer, but they're pretty now), some liriope that I divided from another spot in the yard, and a bit of vinca. Again, all shade plants.

I'm showing you this rather ugly bottom photo so that we'll have something to compare with when I transform that bare edge spot where nothing will grow because those who play basketball run across it. The plan is to dig out some of the soil and fill with small to medium sized round river rocks. It just might look like a little dry mountain streambed. Yeah, we've got a theme going here, don't we.

Anyway, stay tuned on this one.

I've been working in the back, too. Mostly weeding. There's a lot of basil to pick and make into end-of-the-season pesto and some rethinking the top of the retaining wall garden. Unlike the front bed that's more sunny that I thought, this back garden is more shady than I had hoped. It's just not a great place for peppers and tomatoes. So, we'll have to move on to Plan B, C, D, E .... whatever.

Oh, and if you were wondering about those big oaks that were cut down ...

The wood, cut in fireplace lengths, had stayed right where the tree guys left it in our front yard - until Friday, that is. Instead of long walks for a couple of days, my workouts consisted of shoving, rolling, and stacking logs. They're now out of the way so that we can finally plant grass in our front yard again. Maybe, just maybe, with a bit more sun there now, the grass will grow this time. At least until the frizcup players get to it!

I knew it was going to be a good day...

2011-10-01T22:21:00.002-04:00

... when I awoke very early to my even earlier rising husband tenderly pulling a heavier cover over me so I'd stay warm in bed after he got up. I snuggled under the cover and dozed a little more, thankful for such thoughtfulness.

I knew it was going to be a good day ...

... when I pulled on my sweats, made a perfect cup of coffee, donned my wool hat, and went out to the porch. I wrapped a wool blanket around my shoulders, pulled a quilt over my lap, and lit a candle. Yes, it was chilly this morning. A couple of squirrels were navigating the treetops as the birds started to wake up. The flock of starlings that was roosting in our trees a day or so ago were gone so the most noticeable sound this morning was the thunk, thunk, thunk of acorns. Seems to be an abundant crop this year.

The good day continued with ...

... a leisurely breakfast. Oatmeal, of course, on this cool morning. Coty, Rachel, Rick and I got to visit a bit, as they drank their coffee and prepared to head out the door for a day of wedding related activities. Rachel's spending the weekend with us because her fiance, Rick, is housesitting for his folks who live nearby. Rachel is like family, she's spent so much time in the middle bedroom!

... a productive half hour planning menus, choosing recipes from Simply in Season and Simple Suppers. One of my October goals is to do a better job of planning meals. I get in ruts with cooking when I get busy, and our eating suffers. I asked Coty to choose three recipes he wanted to try. His choices: Fried Rice with Tofu and Pineapple, Warm French Lentil Salad, and Beans, Corn and Greens Soup. I picked a couple: Thai butternut squash soup and Au Gratin potatoes with red and sweet potatoes. Lots of good eating this week.

... a trip to the grocery store, with a long, specific list. I also hit the Korean grocery, the Middle Eastern grocery, and the Indian grocery. I love that these little shops are all close by. I came home from my international shops with dried oyster mushrooms, Japanese noodles, tahini, paneer, wholegrain flatbread, Thai red curry paste, powdered hot chilis, and lovely fresh cilantro and dill.

... Thomas and Kay coming for lunch. Homemade hummus with lots of cilantro and garlic on that really good flatbread, grapes, oranges, and carrots. Thomas even tried the concoction that Coty and I are loving these days, kombucha tea with cranberry pomegranate juice and seltzer water. Really, really good, once you are used to the flavor of the kombucha. I'm glad T and K live so close and can stop by on a Saturday for a visit. I always feel so happy when they do that.

... the rest of the afternoon, outside! Digging, spreading mulch, transplanting flowers and perennials, weeding, moving rocks, creating a path, imagining rhododendrons in places I hadn't thought of planting them before.

This evening ...

... Coty and I ate big salads and more hummus and flatbread. I recreated the cilantro-lime dressing that I'd had at a restaurant in G'ville last weekend and it was perfect!

... we previewed a bit of a movie I'm going to show my AP Government class and skyped with Matthew. Rachel returned "home" and now everyone is tucking in for a good night's sleep.

I am so thankful for a productive Saturday. I had envisioned this day as a work day but it included some sweet family and friend time, too. After the last few weeks of very intense study time and class prep, a lot of chores have been put on the back burner. I needed a day to pour into home life. I got so much done and enjoyed spaces of quiet and relationship.

I'd love to tell you more about the garden and the never-ending front yard project. But I'll save that for another day when I have a few pictures to show you. Now, it's time for me to tuck in, too.

I hope you had a good start to this new month, too. Happy October!

In the news...

2011-09-28T08:36:00.001-04:00

Photo from the Charlotte Observer, Cabarrus Neighbors section

Article here!

Home

2011-09-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

"He saw clearly how plain and simple -- how narrow, even -- it all was; but clearly, too, how much it all meant to him, and the special value of some such anchorage in one's existence. He did not at all want to abandon the new life and its splendid spaces, to turn his back on sun and air and all they offered him and creep home and stay there; the upper world was all too strong, it called to him still, even down there, and he knew he must return to the larger stage. But it was good to think he had this to come back to; this place which was all his own, these things which were so glad to see him again and could always be counted upon for the same simple welcome."

- from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (currently listening to on my walks)

Just looking at a few pictures of my children who were not near enough this past weekend to join us for Family Weekend. The stages on which their lives are being played out right now are spread far and wide - India, New York state, Minnesota. It is my work to make sure they all know that there are people who will always be glad to see them and counted upon for the same simple welcome...

Matthew in Minnesota

39th Monday

2011-09-26T11:03:00.003-04:00

Thankful this morning...

2076. For these four with whom I spent a bunch of happy hours on Saturday. We went to our last Furman Family Weekend while Andrew's a student there. Where did those four years go! I stayed over Saturday night and had more time with A on Sunday. So thankful for that time.

2077. And after Furman, a visit with Missy, in her home! And I got to meet John and the boys, in person!

2078. And after Missy, a visit with my folks.

2079. And after a visit with my folks, a safe drive back, a short wait at the airport, and Coty safely back from a weekend away in Minneapolis with Matthew.

I am going to bed

2011-09-23T00:08:00.000-04:00

Dear friends - those of you who read that last post... I am going to bed now. It is late and I hope I will stay asleep tonight. As I head upstairs, I am mindful of the goodness of God.

: : He gave energy today. I taught my class - on very little sleep - and I think it went well. I came home, napped, and then went for a four mile walk. Refreshed, I headed to the soccer game with Coty and watched Joel's team wallop their opponents, 5-0. I cheered especially loudly when Joel scored a really lovely goal.

: : He reminded me of the gift of friendship tonight. Our co-op moms gathered, ate apple cake and drank tea, talked and prayed together. I am so incredibly blessed by these women who share their lives and hearts, who are transparent and weak, but strong as can be, in the strength of the God we love and seek to serve. It is a rare blessing to have such a group of friends. I hope I do not take it for granted, but cherish and nurture these relationships. They are golden.

: : He continues to give the gift of joy in our children. Coty leaves tomorrow for Minneapolis and the DG conference and gets to spend the weekend with Matthew. On Saturday, I head to Greenville for Family Weekend at Furman and get to spend time with Andrew. Thomas, Kay, and Joel are going, too. I really don't care what we do - tailgating, lunch, football game, dinner out, student talent night - those are some of the options, but we don't have a plan yet, and honestly, it doesn't matter. I'm just looking forward to being together... and am happy to think of Coty and Matthew being together. I'm also thinking about Thanksgiving and the prospect of all of us - at least those of us who are on this continent - being together again.

That's all for tonight. I head to bed filled and overflowing with thanks to the Giver of all good gifts.

Happy little moments

2011-09-22T02:46:00.000-04:00

It's the middle of the night. I don't want to be awake. But I am. So, here are a few things that have been running through my mind, in reflecting on the day past and the day ahead ...

: : I love, love, love my students. Today, in one of my high school biology classes, I pushed students hard to really grasp some basic concepts that were new to them. We went over and over a couple of biochemical reactions as we discussed sugars and how they work in our bodies. I kept asking my students to clarify, define, explain and I love that we ended up laughing and feeling triumphant in the learning process.

: : The day was long and full. I got to the late afternoon and hadn't finished dinner preparations and we had friends coming over for premarital counseling in the evening. I wanted to go for a walk. Coty came downstairs as I was starting to saute onions for soup and asked what he could do to get dinner ready so I could get out the door and go for a walk. I am thankful for a husband that encourages me to exercise regularly and is happy to step in and do what's needed so I can go walk for an hour. I had a great 4 mile walk at a fast pace and came home sweaty and happy.

: : Not long after I got home from my walk, Joel returned from the library. He'd gone there to return a book and work for awhile. On his way home, he stopped at Starbucks and brought me a pumpkin spice latte. I knew he was going to do it because he asked me before he went what I wanted. Sweet son. I thoroughly enjoyed my latte.

: : Erin's Terrific Two's blog also makes me very, very happy. As does the thought that she and Clara will be here for a nice long visit in October.

: : Tomorrow's another full day. I teach another great group of students in the morning and am excited about their reflections on civil liberties Supreme Court cases. I spent time grading free response questions that they'd turned in last week and am encouraged by the way in which these students are thinking and working hard. I love the discussions we have in class about significant issues. Tomorrow - the First Amendment and rights in conflict.

: : My teaching load this year is BIG. I am spending long hours preparing for classes. My friend, Amber, and I were talking about this the other day and commenting on the fact that though the preparation takes time, it feeds us. We are learning new things even as we challenge students to read carefully, think hard, observe, and process. As teachers, we must expect that of ourselves as well. We are lifelong learners and truly, teaching is the one of the best ways to learn!

: : It rained today. I sat on the porch and read and drank tea. Three of my favorite things - rain, a good book, and a cup of tea. It doesn't take a whole lot to make me happy.

: : Tomorrow, in addition to teaching, I get to watch a soccer game in the afternoon. You know I love that. In the evening, we have the first of our co-op mom's nights. I am so thankful for this group of women and I love that we'll be gathering just to visit with each other and NOT talk about co-op or school. These times bind us together and are always sweet.

And now ... I'm headed back to bed and hoping I can fall asleep. I would like to be lucid for my students tomorrow and not have large dark circles under my eyes.

Night night.

Yeah, that's my boy!

2011-09-20T09:25:00.001-04:00

A little soccer action for your viewing pleasure this morning. I know I'm his mom, but I have to say that watching Joel play soccer is really a whole, whole lot of fun. The boy does not let down. Ever.

He also does not get riled. He is the one that walks up to the ref at halftime to ask how the team can avoid the calls that are going against them (calls a lot of us parents on the sidelines thought were ridiculous). His reasoning, "If I talk to them calmly and just ask (instead of yelling or arguing) their attitude toward our team will be better and they might make better calls."

The Covenant season is going well so far this year. 1 loss and 6 wins. They have two games later this week against opponents that were tough last year. Should be some exciting soccer. I'll be there.

*Thanks to soccer mom, Mary George - her son's the goalie on Joel's team in the top photo - for her soccer photography.

38th Monday

2011-09-19T10:47:00.000-04:00

Looking back this morning over the last few days and thanking God for His goodness shown in answers to prayer, faithful friends, happy new beginnings, hard places, and small graces ...

Monday morning: coffee on the porch, bread rising, J studying, C running long, lessons to plan, plans to put into action

Last night: news from a friend of a troubled son getting much needed help and a little Latvian girl who will get a new family

Over the weekend: a touch of fall in the air, walking long with something good to listen to, stumps ground, collard greens and the gourmet offerings of others for hungry men at CRM, a courageous friend not wasting her bed rest, Sunday dinner made on Saturday night

Last week: a phone call with J and K from India, great students, labs that worked, soccer, friends' listening ears and caring hearts, hard fruitful conversation, co-op moms, beginning the pre-marital conversations/counseling with R and R!

#'s 2055-75

Birthdays

2011-09-17T12:38:00.002-04:00

September is birthday month around here. When the kids were little, we never tried to start school til after birthday week. Matthew's is September 1, Erin's the 8th, and Andrew's the 9th. And now, we have another September birthday - Clara's is the 2nd.

So, I've been doing a LOT of birthday baking, sending, calling, and a bit of celebrating. Of course, Matthew, Erin, and Clara are all far away, so their birthday goodies went by mail. Some of Andrew's did, too, but then he came home last Sunday so we could celebrate in person. So glad he could come!

Sorry for the grainy picture. It was a little dark. No, he's not 2. He's 21! Two tens on the French Silk pie and 1 one on the Key Lime Pie. Thank you very much, Pioneer Woman, for the recipes. The French Silk pie was especially incredible! I even made the chocolate curls.

Andrew with Thomas, his closest big, but for a long time now smaller, brother. Happy birthday, sweetheart. We love you to the stars and back and then some.

Recently finished

2011-09-17T10:56:00.001-04:00

I know I've been absent for a couple of weeks, but posting here has needed to take a back seat to lesson planning, teaching, soccer games, birthdays, and company. But it's another quiet Saturday - well, except for the noise of the stump grinder outside, eating away at the big old oak tree stumps from the trees we had cut down earlier this summer. Anyway, Joel's at work, Coty's upstairs working, and I have a morning to myself.

I've finished a couple of sweaters in the last two weeks ...

Kay's birthday sweater in a gorgeous llama silk yarn by Plymouth, that was a charm to work with and feels soooo good. Soft, cushy, warm. The pattern, Buttony Sweater, is a free Ravelry download. I left the sleeves short and made the sweater a little shorter than the pattern.

Then I finished this little baby sweater for a friend at church. This is the same pattern I used for Clara's Easter sweater which is the sweater pictured in the header. It's called Swing Thing, also a Ravelry freebie.

This sweater is on the needles now in some of the alpaca I brought home from Bolivia. Don't hold your breath for a picture. It may take me a while!

A great big shout out ...

2011-09-03T23:05:00.001-04:00

thank you to Susan, who explained to me how to make a header with three photos using Paint. Now, that was fun and I am finally happy with the blog header.

It's been a rather quiet Saturday. I spent some time going through some old photos, including some of knitting projects. I'm going to start keeping track of them on the "Off the needles..." page. Right now I have a llama silk sweater almost finished - Kay's birthday present. I can talk about it because her birthday was in June. I gave it to her then, on the needles. I had to order a bit more yarn and the yarn shop didn't have it any longer - thank goodness for ebay. Just a little more ribbing at the bottom and she'll have her sweater before the weather changes enough to wear it!

Our friend, Vijay, came back for a very short visit. He and Coty filmed some sermons in English with Telegu translation today. The sermons will be used with pastors in India. Thanks to Daniel for giving up some of his Saturday to do the filming. The guys got home from filming around 2:00 and I'd made a late lunch for them. Salmon burgers and a potato curry. Vijay walked into the house, took a deep breath and said, "Oh! Smells like India." And then he took seconds on the curry and told me it was really good. I think it was the butter, the Patak curry paste, and the little bit of half and half I added to make it a little less dry. Anyway, I was pretty happy I could make a curry that pleased my Indian friend!

I went for a long walk today - an hour and a half - and it felt great! This is the longest I've walked since returning from Bolivia. I'm itching to do some longer distances again, but I've got to decide on a new book to listen to. Finished Hannah Coulter on my walk today. Any suggestions?

This time two years ago...

2011-09-02T12:14:00.000-04:00

we were getting to know Clarita Elizabeth Olson, our very first grandchild.

Miss Clara's changed quite a bit in those two short years, hasn't she!

Thanks to Aunt Kay for capturing our little muffin applying her sunscreen. Pretty hilarious series of photos!

Happy birthday, sweet Clara. We love you!

Bolivia: Visiting our friends

2011-08-31T01:10:00.000-04:00

Rugged, stark beauty. Dramatic snow-capped peaks. Colorful markets.

We did see some beautiful sights in Bolivia, but that's not why we went. Though we thoroughly enjoyed the "tourist-y" kinds of things we were able to do, we didn't go for the sights. No, we went for some very special people - our friends, who are missionaries and church planters in the La Paz area, Scotty and Lisa and their daughter, Natalie.

We loved getting reacquainted with almost 3 year old, Natty. The paints we took (a gift from one of our church members, Amy) were a big hit.

Coty and Scotty left Lisa, Natty and me in Mallasilla on the Thursday after we arrived and rode the bus for three hours to Ouruo, where Coty spoke at a pastor's conference.

Neither Coty nor I had had any trouble with the altitude until that Friday in Ouruo, when Coty couldn't sleep because of shortness of breath. When he started shaking uncontrollably, he got worried and woke Scotty up. Scotty took such good care of him, calling a doctor friend in La Paz and then at the urging of the doctor, going out to find an open clinic (at 3 AM, folks!), and getting Coty there to be treated. In the clinic, Coty was put on oxygen and before long, he felt much, much better. It's amazing what can happen to our bodies when our cells aren't getting the oxygen they need - and how quickly they can recover once the oxygen starts flowing in! After that episode, Coty didn't have any more problems and was able to go on and speak several times the next day - on very little sleep the night before! Scotty and Coty returned on Saturday night. We were glad to have them back and to hear the good report of the pastor's conference - altitude induced oxygen deprivation and all.

It was funny in Bolivia to hear the pronunciation of Scotty and Coty. They rhymed. Sort of a cross between Scott-y/Cott-y and Sco-ty/Co-ty.

Coty, Scotty, and Natty at the top of the mountain over looking Mallasilla

The reason I went to Bolivia was to spend time with my friend, Lisa. It's been a very difficult last year for her. Their baby son, Zion, who was born premature, died when he was 19 days old. (you can read more at Lisa's blog, here) We talked a lot about their loss, the grief, the emotions, the hard things. We talked about other things, too - food, parenting, friends and family, their life and ministry in Bolivia, books, movies, and more. We sewed some, too. That was fun!

The whole time I was there, I felt so thankful for the opportunity to be with Lisa in her home - to eat meals together; to cook, wash dishes, do laundry; to walk their streets, shop in their market, visit their favorite playground; to drink coffee in the morning, smell the smells, hear the sounds.

Staying in someone's home and just living life with them brings a special closeness.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have done that now with two of our missionary wives, Lisa and Michelle. I've been feeling ever since that trip to China in 2009 and now with the trip to Bolivia, that part of God's work for me in missions is simply caring for the missionary wives and moms. Visiting them in their new home countries is a big part of that. It is one thing to read an occasional update. It is something entirely different to "live life" together.

After coming home from Bolivia and time with Lisa and Scotty, I feel better able to pray for them, to advocate for them, to keep them and their needs and concerns before our church family.

I told a few friends before the trip that I was going as a Titus 2 traveler - just an older woman with a passport who can travel light and doesn't mind long plane flights or immigration lines, going to do what older women are supposed to do for younger women. It's really quite a privilege.

Bolivia: La Valle de la Luna

2011-08-24T22:10:00.001-04:00

I've mostly been in front of my computer today, typing up my final notes for our first AP Government class tomorrow. So, I've only been a mental traveler...

...remembering a walk through a lunar-like landscape.

This spot on the Bolivian ecotourism circuit is a five minute walk from Scotty and Lisa's house. Last Monday afternoon, Coty and I took a stroll over rickety steps, holding onto wobbly handrails, through La Valle de la Luna (the Valley of the Moon).

It's a rather barren, eroded, carved valley. There is a cliff along one edge, just in front of the eucalyptus trees you see in the distance, that drops into a deep canyon below.

We met some German tourists at one of the overlooks and a few minutes later we looked across to another ridge and saw them motioning to us. We took their picture. They were having a good time!

Pretty incredible views! You can actually see S and L's house from here. I'm trying to imagine waking up every morning and looking out at this landscape. I don't think I'd ever get tired of it.

A little hodge podge

2011-08-23T13:51:00.001-04:00

Last night the air turned cooler. I walked early in the morning and there was just the tiniest hint of fall in the air. I am usually not ready for fall. I love summer. But this year, I feel a bit more ready. Maybe now that A and M have gone, it just seems like time to move on...

The rosemary garlic chicken is done roasting and now whole wheat/oatmeal/cornmeal/sunflower seed molasses bread is in the oven. I made the white bean salad earlier and if I have time, I'll grate some fresh beets and make a simple raw beet salad. We have a friend/ministry colleague from India staying with us this week and other friends who love India coming over for dinner. I could have made a curry, but then I'm quite sure it wouldn't be nearly as good as what Vijay eats every day, so I decided to go for something a little less exotic. Still, my house smells very good at the moment. The earthiness of beans cooked earlier, rosemary, fresh bread. Mmmmmm.

Speaking of India, Jonathan and Kandyce are en route there as I type, arriving in Coimbatore in a few hours for their six month stint as assistants to the director of the new CCCU India Studies Program. Can't wait to see pictures of their new home away from home. For now, I can look at these. If you notice the photo credit on the first shot, it's my very talented d-i-l, Kandyce who took all those amazing pictures on previous trips to India.

Soccer starts today. The Covenant high school season, that is. Soccer never really ends around here. We just shift from high school to club as the seasons change. Joel is super-psyched for today's game and another Covenant season. I'm quite ready to sit on the sidelines and cheer again. I do love watching that boy play.

Though it does feel like time to move on to new things, I am not quite ready to start teaching on Thursday morning. But I will be. Thursdays will be spent at the home of the wonderful Farson family, prayer with all our students first, then AP Gov, AP Human Geography, and then the short walk over to Dr. Gordon's house for AP Lit. Joel will be working hard this year. So will I. I'm looking forward to it, but as I said, I'm not quite ready.

I just made kale chips. Globe-trotting, now at Chapel Hill Grace, of the afore-mentioned wonderful Farson family, told me about them. Oh, my. These are good. Possibly addicting.

Time for lunch now. Kale chips, fresh bread (it's out of the oven now), and watermelon. That'll do for me.

Back tomorrow with more about Bolivia.

Some more Bolivia: A Sunday evening stroll

2011-08-21T18:13:00.001-04:00

About this time last Sunday, Coty and I decided to go for a stroll around Mallasilla.

The sun was getting low, casting shadows over the towering mountains that surround the town.

We walked past the town soccer field, quiet in the evening. It had been filled with soccer players earlier in the day. The whole town seemed very quiet at that hour. Few people on the streets, the normally noisy dogs, silent.

The shadows lengthened as we strolled on.

The clouds and hills were back lit by the setting sun.

The cobblestone streets seemed like works of art. They are really beautiful - smooth rounded stones placed just so. It's hard to imagine just how painstakingly difficult it must be to construct such roads. I hope they don't all get paved over in the name of progress.

Toward the end of our stroll, we rounded a corner, looked up and gasped! We hadn't seen it before and we hadn't expected to see that snow-capped peak towering in the distance beyond Mallasilla's encircling mountains. The surprise of that sight, the magnificence of the mountain in the calm of that Sunday evening is a moment etched in my memory.

* sigh *

2011-08-20T21:46:00.000-04:00

We went to the airport very early this morning.

Matthew was heading back to Minneapolis.

Lump in my throat. Tears ready to spill.

They grow up waaaaay too fast and some of them go waaaaaay too far away. That's how I feel at the moment.

Matthew's tender, compassionate heart was stretched by the hard stories of many of the children with whom he worked this summer - children who live in very dysfunctional families and some who have been taken out of even worse circumstances. I'm sure those children felt the love of my young man. I'm sure he made many of them laugh. Some of the inner city kids he worked with one week said they wished he was their teacher all the time. I'm not surprised.

So, there's a hole here today. A big Matthew-sized hole. I'll get used to his absence again in a few days, but for now, it just feels way too empty here.

It's a double-whammy empty because Andrew's also gone. He left for school while we were in Bolivia. I glanced in his room the day I got back and saw his charcoal gray bedspread gone, a big empty space in the wall where his massive picture of Paris had hung, the closet empty. Yeah, sigh.

I'm so thankful that Andrew was at home this summer, too. Back in the spring, when he was interviewing for internships and considering options, we wondered if he'd be here. I'm so glad he was. He had a good summer, learning lots in his job at Piedmont and earning high praise from his bosses, and the love and appreciation of his co-workers, young and old. I know at least one of them cried when he said good-bye.

At least, he's not too far away. Only a couple of hours away and I can go visit soon. I don't have a "going away" picture for Andrew, but how about this one? Fun, huh!

This was at our friend, Germaine's wedding. Andrew and his "little sister" Angela look so cute and happy, don't they!

We work hard to raise our children. I pray and long for mine to know and love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. I want them to grow up to be kind-hearted, hard working, generous, thoughtful, creative. I want them to go out in the world and walk the path God has for them. So, really, I am glad for their going, their stepping out. They've got to go in order to find God's way for them.

But, when they round the corner and disappear through the airport security line, when they pull out of the driveway with the car loaded, when their room is empty and their voices not heard in these spaces...

Well, I feel it.

Catching up...

2011-08-19T11:22:00.000-04:00

...but not today!

I feel like I have so much catching up to do here - pictures and stories from Bolivia, recipes and notes from the food talk and demo to share with you, thoughts about the upcoming school year and teaching and yarn and the garden and being the mother of adult children and walking and on and on...

But, today is for Matthew, who leaves tomorrow for his second year at BCS. He's off very early in the morning to fly to Minneapolis.

Andrew headed back to Furman while we were in Bolivia, so we returned to the sad sight of his empty bedroom. Tomorrow, we'll be back down to one at home.

Joel told me this morning that it feels sort of strange having his brothers and a lot of his friends heading off to college and he's still here. But he's OK with it. And I'm quite OK with it. In fact, I'm very happy with it and not at all ready for him to fly the nest. That time will come soon enough.

For now, time to check on the packing. I'll take the boys to my favorite place for ice cream in the early afternoon and then be busy on a very nice family dinner. I must send my boy off with happy thoughts of good food and good times around the table.

I'll be back in a day or so to start that catching up.

Bolivia: Days 1 and 2

2011-08-12T22:57:00.001-04:00

My brain is tired after a full day so I'll not write much now, but some of you have been asking for pictures. Enjoy these few from our first couple of days...

Above and below are views from the windows of Scotty and Lisa's house. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but somehow I was not prepared for the rugged beauty of this place. It's dry season, so it's mostly brown right now, but the landscape is stunning!

We went to the Wednesday fruit and vegetable market along a La Paz street. Women in traditional dress mixed right in with the modern.

How about that background to the market. It makes where I shop seem incredibly boring.

So does this! All those tropical fruits and vegetables and the more temperate fare, like apples and grapes as well. I was remembering, as we walked through the market and as I watched Lisa interact with the vegetable ladies, just how much I miss shopping in places like this. And the "dash" - that little extra that the woman whose stall you frequent throws in at the end of the purchase - it's called the "yapa" here. Lisa got a bunch of radishes and a couple of extra oranges, I think.

A few more women in their traditional garb, including the bowler hat.

This is on the drive from Mallasilla into La Paz. We pass it everytime we go anywhere. It's called The Valley of the Moon. You pay a few Bolivianos and can go walking along the paths that wind through the "moonscape". We hope to do that while we're here.

Thursday morning we went to the fabric market in Sopacachi. It reminded me a lot of the Xiamen (China, 2009) market, but it was a bit smaller and the selection was not as varied and the quality of fabric not as high. Still, it was fun to see. More fun was the yarn market, a few blocks up. Lisa had never been there and we had to ask where it was.

On the way up the street, we stopped for fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juice.

The yarn market...

Ahhhhhhhhh! A knitter's paradise. I was really wishing I knew the Spanish for various knitting and yarn terms - and that I knew more about various types of wool and alpaca. I'll have to study up before I come back to Bolivia! I did come away with four skeins of beautiful blue bulky alpaca yarn. Pattern ideas, anyone?

These little scarf looms were being sold in most of the shops. I'm sort of kicking myself that I didn't buy one, but at least I took a picture. It wouldn't be hard to make and would be a great handcraft for kids.

Selling her peppers and turnips along the street. Reminds me of so many similar vendors in places we've traveled around the world.

That's all for now. Coty is gone to another city for a pastor's conference and has the laptop with Picassa on it. Also, very sadly, my camera is acting up. I do hope it's not done for. I have so much more to show you! And more to tell. But it will wait for another day.

Love from Bolivia ...

Healthy eating and colorful salads

2011-08-11T21:29:00.002-04:00

It feels long ago and far away (well, it is far away since I am in another hemisphere from where I was on Saturday), but here's a little recap of last Saturday's talk and food demo that I did for the women of Bahama Baptist Church in Bahama, North Carolina. (That's pronounced Ba-hay-ma, y'all). I was invited by my friend, Jenn, whose husband, Wes, is the pastor of the church.

I had about an hour to share with the women some thoughts on eating as a spiritual activity, how we eat to the glory of God, why taking care of our bodies matters to our souls, and how, practically, we can make shopping lists and menus that reflect this attitude toward our food. More on that later when I'm back home at my own computer with my notes in front of me.

After the talk, it was time for the demo. I spent another hour or so showing the women how to make some favorite colorful salad recipes. And then, we ate what we made!

For now, just a few pictures...

Two of my helpers, Jenn's friends and now mine, Olivia and Sara, chopping veggies for me to prep for the demo.

Our table all set up and ready to go...

I believe that's chopped parsley going into the bowl. I recall one woman saying, "Oh, that's a LOT of parsley!" It was - and that's one thing that makes that first bean salad we did so good!

Yeah. We had a lot of fun. I think that was when Olivia spilled the lime juice she was squeezing on the floor. Some of the older ladies were a little tickled that Olivia had never seen a lemon juicer - the "old fashioned" kind.

Our white salad with great northern beans, celery, green onions, parsley and a lemon viniagrette dressing

Yellow salad with corn, yellow peppers, mango, cilantro, black beans and a lime/olive oil dressing

Purple salad with beets, cannelini beans, red potatoes, red onions, and a dill viniagrette dressing

Green salad - one of my favorites because it is so delicious, healthy, and versatile - kale, peaches, red onions, almonds, and blueberries with olive oil, lime juice and kosher salt.

We also did a red salad - a watermelon tomato salad, but we didn't get a picture of that one.

L to R: Jenn, Olivia, Kirsten, and Sara

We had such a great time with this first food talk and demo. Jenn was a huge encouragement to me and the others so helpful. I don't watch foodie type tv shows, but that day I felt sort of like I was on a cooking show. It was great fun and I'd enjoy doing it again. Maybe fall salads next time...

I promise recipes and links when I get back from Bolivia!

Not Africa

2011-08-05T15:04:00.000-04:00

Nope, not Africa. For years, I've been telling people I'd be somewhere in Africa in 2011. But, as I said in that last post, God's plans are not always the same as our plans.

Where are we going, you may be wondering...

Bolivia! We're going to Bolivia - going to visit some dear friends. And I can't wait!

Our friends, Scotty and Lisa have been serving with SIM in Bolivia for several years and it's about time someone from our church here in the states went to visit. Coty has been invited to speak at some pastor's conferences and I'm just really, really happy to get to spend time with Lisa.

I'd write more about our trip, but I'm headed out the door in an hour to go visit another friend a couple of hours away, and speak at her church tomorrow morning. I'll be talking about healthy eating and doing a food demonstration, showing the women how to make some of my favorite colorful summer salads. This is my first foray into teaching about food and cooking to a group. It's going to be fun! Perhaps not the best timing, given that we still have to pack and get ready to leave for Bolivia on Monday. But, that's how we roll around here sometimes! When it rains, it pours. Which, incidentally, it is doing at this very moment!

OK, off to finish getting the food in the cooler and then get on the road. Happy Friday, all!

About this time...

2011-08-04T10:42:00.001-04:00

30 years ago ... Coty and I were about to hike the last 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail with his dad. A month or so after we finished the hike, we left for Kenya.

What a trip! We flew to London, found a cheap travel agent and bought the cheapest tickets we could find to Nairobi. We flew through Cairo, two days after the assassination of Anwar Sadat. Our passports were taken away from us in the terminal and we were watched over by gun wielding, angry looking soldiers. It was not a pleasant experience. But we made it. And we carried an Apple II into Kenya. It was one of the very first micro-computers in the country and was used in a graduate project Coty was working on.

We had plans to be in Kenya for six weeks. We were hoping to stay for six to nine months. We ended up staying for three and a half years. Our daughter, Erin, and a love for Africa were born. God's plans are not always the same as ours. Good thing.

20 years ago ... Coty and I, plus Erin, Jonathan, Thomas, and a 1 year old Andrew, were about to leave for a year in Nairobi. This time, Coty had a sabbatical year from his economics teaching at Williams College and there was no place we'd rather have gone than back to Kenya. It was a very special year.

Look at those kiddos! Aren't they cute. That was the patio outside our little bungalow in Nairobi.

10 years ago ... Coty and I, plus Erin, Jonathan, Thomas, Andrew, Matthew, and Joel were about to leave for a year in Cameroon. We went to teach at the Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary. Coty had left his career as an economist and we were beginning our lives in full time ministry.

Do you notice a pattern. Every August, in the year ending in 1, we have been getting ready to go to Africa. I've been telling people for the last ten years or so that I knew where I'd be this August. Somewhere in Africa.

Four days from now ... Coty and I will be on a plane. No children. Just us. This time we're going to ....

Listen to this

2011-08-02T16:47:00.000-04:00

If you've never read Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry, now's your chance, not to read but to listen to it for free! This favorite of mine is the free download for August from Christianaudio.com. I'm going to put the book I'm currently listening to while I walk, The Man Who Knew Too Much, by G.K. Chesterton, on hold for a bit and revisit Port William. I'm just afraid I won't be able to stop walking as I listen, but will just keep going and going and going...

I hope you'll take advantage of this wonderful offering, too!

Well! That was FAST!!!

2011-07-26T22:15:00.000-04:00

The email said to allow 60 days. It took less than two hours. I am official! No tweaking. No changes needed. I'm really and truly done with the plans and ready to go for this year's co-op AP GoPo class!

I feel like celebrating!

News Flash

2011-07-26T21:38:00.000-04:00

It's done. AP US Government and Politics syllabus, hereafter known on this blog and everywhere else as AP GoPo. Finished. Submitted. And they didn't even ask for my first born son. I know Kandyce is relieved.

Now, I wait to see if they like it. Whether they give me final approval to officially label the class "AP" or tell me I have to tweak a bit, I am pretty pumped to have the year mapped out. From now til the time we start in late August, I'll be reading ahead.

Starting with the Constitution...

Back at it

2011-07-26T14:33:00.001-04:00

Well, I'm back at my book strewn table again, plugging away on this syllabus writing. I am done (I hope) with one of them, my AP US Government and Politics (AP GoPo!) syllabus and am now trying to submit it online for approval. Glitches seems to be the norm.

First I had to figure out my "association" in order to set up an account. That's a little tricky if you're teaching in a non-traditional setting. Nothing on the site gave me a clue, but there was a phone number, thank goodness. Only 4 minutes on hold and I got a very nice young man who gave me the number I needed.

Now, I'm trying to actually upload the syllabus so the AP gods can tell me if I'm worthy. I click on the bar that says "Create or Upload Syllabus" and nothing happens. Hmmmm??? I sent a message via the communication center on the site stating my problem and now, I'm hoping an email will come soon telling me what to do. Maybe I'm supposed to sacrifice my first born son or something.

Well, while I wait on that email, there's a high school biology syllabus about half way done and lab supplies to order.

I know, I know ...

I'm on here blogging instead of working.

OK. I'm stopping now and going back to the books ...

But first, one little picture.

My husband really knows how to relax. This is what I found him doing on his afternoon off yesterday. He rigged up noodles underneath to make the float that had a hole in it work for a snooze on the pool. A back yard waterbed. Not bad.

30th Monday

2011-07-25T14:18:00.000-04:00

Still counting, with thanksgiving ...

2038. My mom is home from the hospital and doing well

2039. My son and dil have made a big decision!!!

2040. My niece and nephew came for a few fun days.

2041. Matthew's new buddy who gave him the biggest hug when he saw him at church yesterday.

2042. Core seminar (what we call Adult Sunday School at church). I love our discussions and always come away challenged and encouraged.

2043. a handwritten letter.

2044. a phone call from my oldest (meaning longest) best friend who always keeps up with what's going on and is the very best about remembering.

2045. Joyful sounds from little people, including this little guy who knew ALL the words, too!

2046. The team effort of VBS and the happiness of those days.

2047. Our trip to Bolivia in August to visit these dear friends.

2048. An exuberant African wedding!

2049. People who reach out to refugees and invest in lives - Ed and Annette, Jonathan and Kandyce, Thomas, Sarah B., my sister.

2050. Friends that drop by.

2051. Impromptu game nights.

2052. More days of quiet work.

2053. Getting a long overdue household repair done this week!

2054. Picking summer blueberries and buying fresh-picked-that-morning peaches.

Who you are ...

2011-07-24T20:25:00.003-04:00

... really shows in the hospital. My mom is a case in point.

She hadn't eaten or drunk anything for almost 48 hours, pre and post surgery, but she was mostly concerned about whether or not I was going to get any dinner that night at the hospital.

The morphine pump had been beeping for an interminably long time before the nurse came to reset it. Though Mama was the one so badly in need of sleep in the middle of the night, she said, "I hope this beeping doesn't wake up anyone in the next room."

When the nurse came in this morning to ask how she was doing, Mama said, "Terrible! This machine beeped all night and my daughter didn't get any sleep!" Of course, she didn't get any sleep either, but she seemed more bothered about the fact that I spent a sleepless night than that she did.

I had the privilege of spending two nights in the hospital with Mama and got to watch time and again as she expressed her thanks to nurses, aids, doctors, technicians, the cleaning lady... whoever came in the room to serve her.

I also observed her tenacity. When the doctor told her to use the inspirometer ten times an hour, she put it up to her mouth and started breathing. When the doctor told her she should try and walk sometime that day, she walked, early and often.

She went home from the hospital today. I'm so glad, because while the hospital is a place where who you are really shows, it is certainly not a place to rest. I'm happy that Mama's going to get a good night's sleep tonight without once having her blood pressure taken!

Brain-fried and stiff, but almost done!

2011-07-19T16:55:00.001-04:00

I have had two almost completely uninterrupted days to lie on the hammock and read. Dream on...

No, I've been glued to my desk chair with books and papers spread out all around me writing syllabi. That's plural.

AP US Government and Politics and High School Biology. What? Am I crazy? No, don't say anything.

On Sunday night, sensing the slippage of summer days and the enormity of the task at hand, I felt overwhelmed and a just a bit panicky.

At this moment, with one syllabus almost totally finished and the other well on the way, I am feeling brain-fried and stiff, but sort of ... triumphant! Do not, however, ask me to tell you anything about federalism, enumerated powers, or the exclusionary rule, nor mention phagocytosis, chromatids, or vascular bundles. I would just stare at you blankly and ask for another glass of ice water.

Really, though, isn't it funny how huge and daunting a task seems until you sit yourself down in the chair and just do it.

And now, I'm putting the books away and going down to spend a couple of days with my parents. Then, on my way back, I'll stop at my favorite fabric store and buy the backing fabric for Thomas and Kay's quilt. Then my niece and nephew will visit and there will be sewing and swimming and cooking and probably some movie making and definitely lots of fun!

29th Monday

2011-07-18T09:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we sang these words from a hymn written by Joseph Addison in 1710:

When all Thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.

Unnumbered comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestowed,
Before my infant heart conceived
From Whom those comforts flowed.

Ten thousand, thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart
That tastes those gifts with joy.

Through all eternity to Thee a joyful song I'll raise.For oh, eternity's too short to utter all Thy praise.

I stopped numbering back in May. Why? Inertia, I suppose. A bit of malaise. The crush of busy-ness. These are not good reasons. They were, like life often is, unintentional. And the days continued and the gifts went not entirely unnoticed, but uncounted, and my heart was less cheerful.

This life is far too short for inertia, malaise, and busy-ness. So, I go back, thankful for new mornings and fresh starts, to counting and more intentional thanksgiving. There are, as the hymn says, ten thousand, thousand precious gifts and I'm only at...

2025. music of the summer morning: cardinals, crows, cicadas...

2026. the play of morning light on oak leaves

2027. metaphorical language in Scripture (Isaiah 28:23-29)

2028. helpful commentaries and new insights.

2029. a couple of quiet days to be guarded from interruptions

2030. morning smoothies to handed to one boy on his way back upstairs for his quiet time and to another on his way out the door to work.

2031. good work for sons to do

2032. starting fresh, knowing the pay-off of perseverance and that slacking off doesn't have to continue in a downward spiral. Get up and keep walking - literally and figuratively.

2033. librivox.org

2034. After church lunch time conversation and reflection around the table.

2035. a table full of books and papers to help in completing this day's task of syllabus writing.

2036. energy and time for the job!

2037. the promise of a walk and a swim

Roots in the South: We Visit Charleston

2011-07-17T19:30:00.004-04:00

I married into a family with deep Charleston roots. Woven into the history of that beautiful city is a much more recent family history tied to happy memories and cherished places.

In early July, we took a little trip to Charleston to revisit some of those places with Coty's parents. Matthew took along his video camera and filmed both Grammie and Bapa telling stories of their growing up years on site at MacLaura Hall, Dunneman Avenue, Radcliffe Street, former movie theatres on King Street, and of course, 64 Rutledge.

First are scenes from MacLaura Hall, the beautiful home on the Ashley River, built by Coty's grandparents. C has lots of memories of vacation visits there as a kid, sleeping on the porch, fishing in the lakes, visiting with cousins, drinking a cold Coke from Granddad's refrigerator in the little house...

This beautiful deck overlooking the marsh and river is an addition from the time Mamma lived there. The new owner has made many changes to the house, but always with a view with connecting to the history and particular geography of this lovely old home.

Coty remembers fishing in this lake - and we heard stories from Grammie about the alligator found in it and the ducks her father would feed each day.

These gates were custom designed for the front entrance to the property. Though they now stand on either side of the driveway to the house, they once stood along the highway and marked the entrance to the property. Apparently, it was rather a jungle when Coty's grandparents moved there and they did most of the work themselves to transform it into a stunning place with azaleas reflecting in the black water of the lakes in the spring, paths through the woods which Coty's grandmother, Mamma, helped clear with a machete, and a big vegetable garden on the "island".

Mamma was an amazing woman with more energy in her 90's than most people have at much younger ages. She could outwork most anyone. One of my memories of her was walking the path through the woods to the garden and her, picking up sticks and branches that had fallen in the path and tossing them back into the woods. She kept her paths clear for walking. She stayed busy, working hard to make her home and property a place of lasting beauty. That's probably why she lived so long. The evening after we visited MacLaura Hall, we had dinner with the woman that cared for her in her last years. Dear Mrs. Pierce is now living in an assisted living home, said of Mamma, "Oh, everyone just fell in love with Miz Canaday."

On King Street - one of the old movie theatres that Coty's folks remembered going to is now an Urban Outfitters. The other theatres are still there, living on as other assorted shops. I think only one of them is still a theatre. They remember walking a few blocks and watching movies for a nickel.

64 Rutledge - the house where Grammie lived from the time she was 8 til she went away to college. It is a beautiful old Charleston home with wide wrap-around porches on two floors, very high ceilings, and lovely old wood floors.

Arrangements had been made with the current owner to visit the house. Dan was so gracious and had lots of questions for Grammie about what the house was like when she lived there.

The living room chandelier was a gas chandelier, imported from Germany. Grammie remembers her mother being very proud of it. It's now been wired for electricity.

I love these fireplace inserts and tile surrounds. These are the old coal burning fireplaces and Grammie says this is the tile she remembers. There were different colors in other rooms.

Overlooking the neighborhood from the second floor porch and reminiscing with Dan about who lived where when.

What a beautiful old home it is. It is actually for sale now. I sure hope whoever buys it has a sense of history and will appreciate how much this place has been lived in and loved.

875 Rutledge (below) - the house where Grammie was born. Yes, in that house, not a hospital.

And finally, not family history, but a fun little cafe where we ate lunch at the end of our filming in Charleston.

We ate the biggest BLT's I've ever seen and some really delicious corn crab soup. A tasty way to end our Charleston visit. Hungry boys were happy.

Roots in the South: A Cabarrus Connection

2011-07-12T19:50:00.001-04:00

There is a beautiful old church on a country road about 6 miles from here. Back in 2005, Erin and I visited Rocky River Presbyterian when we were looking for a venue for her wedding. It is a simple brick building that sits back from the road in a grove of oak trees. The tiny white clapboard Session House sits beside it and a very old and meticulously maintained cemetery behind. Erin decided against getting married at Rocky River because it didn't have a center aisle. At that time, we were unaware of the family connection to the church. Knowing that her great-great-great-great grandfather had spearheaded the building of the church in 1860 would certainly have made it a more compelling spot for the wedding.

A year or so ago, my mom told me about our connection to Rocky River. Her great-great grandfather on her mother's side was the minister there for 34 years. His name was Daniel Allen Penick. He and his wife, Agnes, are buried in the cemetery at Rocky River.

This plaque is on the very spare front wall of the sanctuary. A large wooden pulpit stands in front of it, fashioned long ago by a local carpenter.

Such a beautiful old cemetery. Daniel Allen's gravestone is the one in the foreground.

Back in June, my uncle and aunt from Texas and two of their grandchildren, cousins I'd never met, came with my mom to visit and see these places of family history. My mom and Uncle Roy posed for a photo in the balcony of the church. You can see the plaque (shown above) on the wall at the front of the church, just beyond my uncle's shoulder under the light.

It was such an interesting day. We had the privilege of meeting the church historian who shared so much information with us about the church, Daniel Allen and Agnes.

Thinking of this man, his family, his time in history - I wonder ... What was their life like? How did they spend their days? This was a very rural, farming community. How close knit was it and what role did the church play in the life of the community?

The bricks for the building were made, we were told, right on site from the red clay so prevalent in our soil. What was their brick making process like? Was it similar to the brick making my children helped with when we lived in Cameroon?

What was the relationship of the black slaves who sat in the balconies to their masters in the seats below?Were there people sitting in that congregation who agonized over the injustice of that arrangement? Or were they simply content with the status quo?

The church building was completed and dedicated in 1861 and 2 months later, the Civil War started. How was the community affected by the war? We were told by the church historian that 85 men (I think that was the number) from the church died in the war. Can you imagine a loss so great in your own church or community?

After visiting Rocky River, we went to First Presbyterian Concord, where one of Daniel Allen's son's, Peter Tinsley Penick, was a minister. His time in Concord was much shorter and then he went on to pastor a church in Virginia. While he served in Concord (mid 1800's), the church building was on the site of what is now one of my favorite places in the area, Memorial Garden. Another special link to the past.

Do you sometimes wish you could go back in time and meet your ancestors? I do. When we moved here to NC in 2002, I had no idea that I'd be living only a few miles from where my great-great and great-great-great grandfathers lived and served. How I would love to go back and see this place as it was then, though during much of their time here - the mid 1860's - life was scarred by war and its aftermath.

I like knowing that I have some roots here. I sometimes wonder if I would have felt less adrift after that move in 2002 if I had known of the long connection to this place. It doesn't really matter. Life takes us places and God weaves the tapestries of our past, present and future for His good purposes whether we live in the same community all our lives or travel far and wide. Still, these days, this place feels more like home ... and I am mindful that it's a good thing.

Roots in the South

2011-07-08T14:35:00.001-04:00

After picking blackberries at a friend's farm the other morning, the boys and I sat on a lovely old porch under the shade of pecan trees, and had a conversation about growing up "southern." When my older children were young, we lived in New England. Our daughter, Erin, never lived in the south, since she went off to college in Massachusetts before we moved to North Carolina. Jonathan lived here in NC with us for a couple of years before leaving for the same college up north as Erin. My four younger boys have spent more time down south and they've mostly shed any traces of their New England younger years in accent and leanings, except perhaps that a couple of them root for the Red Sox.

I'm one of those G.R.I.T.S - Girls Raised In The South. Whatever stereotype comes to your mind when you read that, probably doesn't fit, except that I do know how to brew sweet tea and I love fried okra. I grew up mostly in South Carolina with a few years in Georgia, then went to college in North Carolina. After that, I left for parts far, far away...California, Kenya, a short bit in the northern Virginia/DC area (which doesn't count as the south), Massachusetts, and Cameroon. Somehow, I never thought I'd live back down south.

Little did I know. The move here in 2002 was very hard for me, leaving a tiny New England college town with no stoplight til the last couple of years we lived there. We walked or rode bikes everywhere, saw people we knew all the time in the grocery store and post office, let the kids go just about anywhere they wanted in the woods and fields nearby. We played in the river behind our house, ice skated in the back yard, helped friends boil maple syrup a time or two, wore LLBean mucky-muck boots a lot, and cross-country skiied out the back door. Some of those things, you don't do in the south.

When I lived in New England, I loved it. But, though I was very, very happy there, in some ways it never felt quite like home. My mom supplied me with a Southern Living subscription every year. My children, unlike their New England buddies, said "yes, ma'am" and "yes, sir" (well, some of the time) and apparently, according to them, whenever I talked on the phone to my sister, my southern accent was particularly pronounced. They say they could always tell when it was Aunt Anne was on the phone by how I sounded.

So, though the move was a hard one and I left behind a very beloved place, I felt like I was coming home. Back to the comfort of people who call complete strangers "honey" and say "bless your heart." But it's more than that. I've learned since returning to the south, more than I knew before about those deep southern roots - French Huguenots, on my dad's side who emigrated to South Carolina in the 1700's, and Scotch Irish on my mom's side, going back a long way in the Carolinas, too. My husband also has deep southern roots, too, and famous ancestors, to boot. Charles and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, were signers of the Constitution. I'm no genealogy buff like others in our families, but I appreciate those who have tracked these connections down.

This summer we've had two very special opportunities to explore those southern roots in a more tangible way. Next post, I'll tell you about the Rocky River connection and how it seems, to me, rather amazing that I live so near to where my great, great, great grandfather on my mother's side served faithfully as a minister for 35 years and spearheaded the building of a beautiful country church. Somehow, knowing this has made me feel more like I belong here... at least for now.

Oh, yeah!

2011-07-06T18:53:00.001-04:00

They are...

my youngest two...

both awesome!

Turns out this little cafe was pretty great, too. Really good corn crab soup. Perfect spot for a post-Charleston-family-history-trip lunch before we headed back up the road to home. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Stay tuned...

Summer Reading #4

2011-07-02T19:39:00.002-04:00

Last night I finished Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart. Sort of ironic isn't it that the inaugural book on the Kindle was hand-written correspondence by a spunky pioneer woman?! Perhaps that's a little personal statement that I am not wholeheartedly in the digital age. Some days, I'd very happily throw my Kindle, computer, and cell phone away and travel back in time to the frontier. Some days, I think I was born in the wrong century.

I loved reading these letters, loved imagining the strong, brave, tenderhearted, practical woman who wrote them, loved the time and place, the beauty of the rugged country, the community of neighbors, the hard but fruitful labor of turning a wilderness into a garden.

Some of my favorite sections are descriptions of her travels, including this one:

"Soon we came to the pineries, where we traveled up deep gorges and canyons. The sun shot arrows of gold through the pines down upon us and we gathered our arms full of columbines. The little black squirrels barked and chattered saucily as we passed along, and we were all children together. We forgot all about feuds and partings, death and hard times. All we remembered was that God is good and the world is wide and beautiful."

and this one:

"Our improvised beds were the most comfortable things; I love the flicker of an open fire, the smell of the pines, the pure, sweet air, and I went to sleep thinking how blest I was to be able to enjoy the things I love most."

and descriptions of the work she did, like this lengthy section:

"I never did like to theorize, and so this year I set out to prove that a woman could ranch if she wanted to. We like to grow potatoes on new ground, that is, newly cleared land on which no crop has been grown.

Few weeds grow on new land, so it makes less work. So I selected my potato-patch and the man ploughed it, although I could have done that if Clyde would have let me I cut the potatoes, Jerrine helped, and we dropped them in the rows. The man covered them, and that ends the man's part. By that time the garden ground was ready, so I planted the garden. I had almost an acre in vegetables. I irrigated and I cultivated it myself.

We had all the vegetables we could possibly use, and now Jerrine and I have put in our cellar full, and this is what we have: one large bin of potatoes (more than two tons), half a ton of carrots, a large bin of beets, one of turnips, one of onions, one of parsnips, and on the other side of the cellar we have more than one hundred heads of cabbage. I have experimented and found a kind of squash that can be raised here, and that the ripe ones keep well and make good pies; also that the young tender ones make splendid pickles...They told me when I came that I could not even raise common beans, but I tried and succeeded. And also I raised lots of green tomatoes, and as we like them preserved, I made them all up that way....I milked ten cows twice a day all summer; have sold enough butter to pay for a years supply of flour and gasoline. We use a gasoline lamp. I have raised enough chickens to completely renew my flock, and all we wanted to eat, and have some fryers to go into the winter with. I have enough turkeys for all of our birthdays and holidays.

I raised a great many flowers...

I have tried every kind of work this ranch affords, and I can do any of it. Of course, I am extra strong, but those who try, know that strength and knowledge come with doing. I just love to experiment, to work, and to prove out things, so that ranch life and "roughing it" just suits me.

One tough lady. Now I want to go out and pull weeds and move stumps.

Special little people

2011-07-02T08:44:00.002-04:00

Our last two weeks have been full of time with some very special little people. As I mentioned in last Sunday's post, the Snead's have been visiting from China. We're so glad they come to Charlotte when they visit the states and glad that this trip we got to spend lots of time with some very special little people.

Vera

Eden

Tobey

and Kai...oh, that face!

Michelle wanted the girls to have swimming lessons while in the states this summer and our friend, Karen, graciously offered to teach them here at our pool. Vera and Eden are little fish and made so much progress in the two weeks they were here! Thursday's final time in the pool ended with both of them jumping off the diving board and swimming all the way to the shallow end! Pretty amazing for two little girls that just learned how to really propel themselves through the water. They really are quite fearless and had lots of cheering from the poolside as they leaped and splashed and showed us what they had learned!

Special thanks to Karen, who teaches lessons at a local pool and an aquatic center, for giving so generously of her time for the girls.

When we weren't in the pool, there was time for legos on the porch, trains in the family room, homemade play dough, coloring, "soccer", and "music."

Though my kids are big, I still try to keep this house pretty kid friendly. Two big bins of legos live under the lounge on the porch and when little people are over, they routinely get spread all over the porch. After the Sneads left yesterday, Matthew wondered why it is that little kids like to dump all the legos on the floor when they play with them?" Andrew reminded him that you have to dump them to find just the perfect little piece that is always at the bottom of the bin. We also think that the sound of cascading legos is a favorite sound of small children so, of course, they must be dumped in order to hear that kind of music.

We had other music here, too. The piano is always an attraction. We also have an assortment of drums, an autoharp, a bowed psaltery, castanets, a guitar, and several recorders. The kids usually made a beeline to the living room/music room when they arrived so we had quite a ~~cacophony~~ concert every time.

We got to celebrate Kai's third birthday yesterday...

complete with funfetti cake, of course... (haven't made one of those in a long time!)

Happy birthday singing...

and candles for the birthday boy.

Fun time!

After the party, it was time for a haircut for Tobey. Those eyes!

Then time to load up the car...

and take one last picture with "Miss Beth" and the recorders I found for the kids in their personal colors, pink for Vera, purple for Eden, "lellow" for Tobey, and blue for Kai. Now they'll have music wherever they go, though I'm guessing those recorders won't be out of their cases on the long car rides they have ahead of them this week.

The kids climbed in the van and we stood by the open door and blew kisses and waved as they pulled away yesterday. Sigh...it's going to be mighty quiet here next week. I sure will miss those little ones and their amazing parents.

*But now, in the quiet, I'm dreaming about how to get to see another very special little person and her amazing parents this summer!

Pretty excited to show you...

2011-06-29T09:55:00.001-04:00

Thomas and Kay's wedding quilt!

From a stack of squares in shades of indigo, lavender, violet, turquoise, deep sky blue and cyan ...

arranged square by square on the family room floor...

stacked in numbered rows...

and stitched square by square, row by row, the top is done!

It's so big we had to hang it down over my parents' upstairs landing to show you the whole thing!

This is a stash value quilt, though I used both fabrics from my stash and a lot of new ones purchased with the recipients in mind. One of my favorite parts of making any quilt is choosing the fabrics and thinking of special people for whom it is being made. Thomas and Kay are the epitome of a couple that knows how to have fun together and I thought about that a lot as I chose fabrics.

Now I have to choose the backing and binding fabrics and get it all put together. I'm very pleased with how this has all come together and it really took less time than I anticipated. They will be sure to have the completed quilt before their first anniversary!

If you want to know more about how to make this kind of quilt, I first saw this design idea here and was led to a very helpful tutorial here.

Cobwebs and Potatoes

2011-06-29T08:05:00.003-04:00

After that post about the gathering at our house, a few folks said, "I hope you're going to get some rest now."

I appreciate their sentiments. Having a house (and porch and yard and pool) full of people can be tiring, but for me, it's a good tired. I have finally learned (I hope) after the earlier years of fretting and fussing, that hospitality is not about the house at all. It is not about the decor or the cleanliness, not even about the food.

Two stories that helped me to learn this...

Some years ago, I hosted a women's gathering in my home. We sat with our tea and treats in my family room and talked. We must have had some sort of women's meeting type topic, maybe a devotional. Honestly, I don't remember anything about the content which probably has to do with the fact that I had likely worried about getting my house clean, scurried around barking out jobs, and probably rushing to get it all done and ready and nice before the women arrived.

A couple of months after this gathering, there was another one at someone else's home and many of the same women were present. The topic of this second gathering, I do remember, was hospitality.

We sat around and talked about what hospitality really is and why we differ in our comfort levels with inviting people into our homes. One woman, who had rarely invited anyone to her house shared how she was nervous about cleanliness and afraid people would not feel comfortable.

She had recently, however, invited a family to dinner and she told us what had helped her overcome her fear of opening her home. She said, "Last time we met at Beth's house, I looked up in the corner of the room and saw big cobwebs. I figured if Beth wasn't worried about the cobwebs and didn't mind people seeing them, I shouldn't worry about my house either."

I was, well not quite mortified, but a bit chagrined. I had never even noticed those cobwebs. I went home and the first thing I did was to look up in that corner and there they were, probably even bigger than they had been before, long dusty silken threads waving in the breeze. From my friend's vantage point, they must have been so obvious and they really did look pretty bad! She must have thought I was not much of a housekeeper, but those cobwebs gave her courage.

It was not the shortbread I had baked, nor the flowers on the table that meant the most to my friend. It was the cobwebs she remembered.

And another little story, this one told to me many years ago when we lived in Kenya.

I had a friend, Margaret, who worked as an administrative assistant in a college in Nairobi. She was a mother of three, active in the church, married to a university professor, fairly well off. One Sunday, she and her family were invited by someone they'd just met at church, to come for lunch. When they arrived, their host was busily peeling potatoes and putting them on to boil. Margaret looked around to see what else she was preparing, but that was it. Just potatoes. That was all the family had to eat. They sat down to a meal of boiled potatoes and talked and got to know each other better. Margaret told me it was one of the most enjoyable lunches she'd ever had. It mattered not at all that the only thing on the table was potatoes. What was shared that day was much more than food. Love was served in heaping portions.

Those are my stories. They help me keep the right perspective on what true welcome means. When I am tempted to fret about preparing for guests, I remember cobwebs and potatoes.

*pictures from Sunday's gathering

2011-06-26T23:22:00.003-04:00

Today this home got to love on some people.

We had a potluck with a few friends. 52 of them. Plus us. 59 in all. We would have had 60 but one friend left to stay with the children of a mom in labor!

We were celebrating and enjoying the visit of our dear, dear friends, the Sneads, who live and work in China. They come back every so often and we all want to hang out with them so we throw a big potluck and visit all afternoon.

Lots and lots of food spread out on the big table with all the leaves in, desserts on the counter, tables set up in our driveway, blankets on the ground for kids, a screen porch and family room full of folks. People ate, talked, swam, played friscup and ping-pong, ate some more, and talked some more. People lingered, slowly filtering home and after the big boys left in the late afternoon to play basketball at the park, the kitchen friends stayed to clean up.

Those kitchen friends - they're the ones who know where everything goes in my kitchen and who don't wait to be asked before they wash dishes, unload the dishwasher and put it all away, take out the trash, wipe the counters. They are the friends who stay til the end to make sure everything's in order before they take their tired selves home. Everyone should have kitchen friends. I am really quite fortunate that way.

The boys and I worked hard yesterday to get ready. We cleared away some junk and swept out the garage. The driveway had a coating of silt - the deposit left from heavy rain washing across bare spots in the yard. We cleaned it and then moved and set up tables and chairs, spread tablecloths and picked queen anne's lace for simple centerpieces. I vacuumed and moved chairs, washed the kitchen floor, cleaned the bathroom, cleared out the clutter.

The kitchen still has a big brown water spot and a hole in the ceiling, the furniture is mostly hand-me-downs and cast-offs, the carpet is worn, the deck is old and splintery, the front yard not the lush lawn I'd like to see, the weeds abundant. Does any of that matter when people sit around with good food and great conversation? It does not.

Susan wrote, "A house shows off for people. A home loves them." I'd like to put that on a plaque and hang it right above the chipped kitchen counter. Maybe I'll do that by the time we have our next little gathering.

Another son, another moment

2011-06-25T09:51:00.001-04:00

We cleared the dishes and stood in the kitchen, waiting for the others to come downstairs to play an after dinner game. We noticed the pink glow of sky beyond the trees out back and decided to take a walk up the street to the top of the hill to see the sunset.

Our house is in a bit of a valley, surrounded by tall oaks, hickories and poplars. We don't have a vista. The only spot along our road where we can see for any distance is the power cut under the high tension lines. Not so scenic. Still, we can climb the gully-scarred red clay hill and watch the sunset to the west ... and that's something.

As Matthew and I walked up the road last night, we noticed the colors. I pointed to one spot that was turning my favorite color, a saturated aqua sky blue (there must be a name for this color) and M pointed to a spot that was softly fading from peach into blue.

Atop the hill, I picked a couple of handfuls of ripe blackberries and we shared them, gazing to the west, power lines and the roofs of ticky-tack suburban houses that have sprung up in a farmer's field since we moved here strung across our sunset. The colors were stunning and the tall hardwoods along the distant hills between us and the city blurred like a rolling mountain range.

Matthew and I both read Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl, a few months back and he reminded me of the subtitle: Wide-Eyed Wonder in God's Spoken World. Last night we stepped out the door and walked up the street to the top of a rather unsightly hill - and that's what we had, wide-eyed wonder. The man-made, banal, and unattractive didn't go away. It just faded to insignificance in that moment in the glory of the God-made, extraordinary, radiant.

We stood on the hilltop awash in color and my son put his arm across my shoulders.

A sweet moment

2011-06-23T18:53:00.000-04:00

I had a sweet moment yesterday. But I have to back up a little bit.

Joel and I have been trading books this summer. He often comes to me and asks what he should read next. I sometimes pull out the "official" list, the one our co-op writing/ literature teacher sends out every summer. He's read a lot of the books on that list. It's a good list. There are other good lists out there, but there are still plenty of great books that haven't made those lists ... yet.

So, early in the summer, I suggested Unbroken. I hadn't read it yet, but Coty (and everyone else who's read it) liked it. Joel read it quickly and told me I needed to read it. So, I did.

Then I read Island of the World. Next time he came asking for a book, that's what I suggested. He's about 600 pages in now and I ask him just about every day what's happening.

Now, here's the sweet part. As I read the book, I put little slips of paper in various places to mark pages with passages I loved. Then I went back and copied the passages in my quote journal. I thought I'd removed all my little markers after copying the passages, but apparently not. Yesterday, Joel walked in the room where I was working and said he'd gotten to one of my markers. Now, since this is a library book, of course, I had not underlined anything. I asked him where he was in the story and he proceeded to read to me the exact passage I had copied. I hadn't even hinted at it. Honest. He just knew why I had marked that page.

I felt happy. Warm. Connected. Known. And thankful that my 16 year old son found rich and meaningful something that had so resonated with me. Yeah, it was a sweet moment.

The Fathers in my life include...

2011-06-19T20:39:00.006-04:00

My dad, Cantey, Granddaddy, Papa C - whose creativity, humor, wide ranging interests, generosity, thoughtfulness, and love have supported me in more ways that I can number. Daddy said to me a long while back something I will never, ever forget:

"Our mistakes as parents are mistakes of our humanity, not our intention."

The humility in those words has stayed with me and bolstered me when I've felt the sting of messing up as a parent. It's the common lot of all of us who have children. We will blow it sometimes. But it was never in our hearts to hurt, never our desire nor intention to make mistakes that caused pain to our children. I feel deep gratitude to my Daddy, whose words and example free me from the false notion that I can somehow be the "perfect parent." We parents need grace, too.

My husband, Coty, Sweetheart, Papa - who delighted in each newborn, played "rolly-ball" on the floor with toddlers, "dangerous criminal" with youngsters, and still plays basketball, Backgammon, board games, word games, really any game with all of us, who encouraged and taught all of our children, read countless books to them, understood and still understands the vicissitudes of the teen and young adult years, who delights in his granddaughter and looks forward to more grandchildren, who leads spiritually, trusts deeply, counsels wisely and prays daily - the loving father of our six children who welcomes many others into our family circle - this is man with whom I gladly, joyfully, and sometimes through tears share the adventure of parenting.

My son-in-law, Luke, Daddy to Clara, the Cowboy - who deeply loves our daughter and granddaughter in visible and vocal ways, who works hard shouldering responsibility with faithful care, who is creative, funny and fun and is raising his little girl to know and love God - this is the young man I am so glad my daughter met in Cameroon almost ten years ago and who now makes this Mommy/Gramma glad.

My father-in-law, TC, Bapa, the General - who welcomed his son's hippie vegetarian girlfriend one Thanksgiving Day long ago, and who carefully stewards and gives generously, who has shared himself and his love of backpacking with his twelve grandchildren enriching the lives of them all and who raised of his son to be a tender, faithful man - for all of these things, I am grateful.

There are more fathers - my two grandfathers, no longer living, of whom I have many happy memories; the father of my high school friend, Teresa, a father of 8, also gone home, who always said, "I hate kids" and we laughed and knew how much he loved; the fathers of my children's spouses who have shaped the children I rejoice to call my son and daughters-in-law; the fathers in my church... so many examples of strong, loving, faithful fathers. On this day, I give thanks for them all.

Happy Father's Day!

Generosity

2011-06-17T08:48:00.000-04:00

Dear kindle fairy,
You know who you are. So do I. But the world will not know because you wanted your incredible generosity to remain a secret. You just wanted to give a great big gift and leave it at that. Out of your great big heart, you gave. From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you.

Thank you for the kindle, which will be used and greatly enjoyed by both the optimizer and me.

Thank you, even more, for the ways you show me how to live a joy-filled, giving life that blesses people wherever you go.

I am delighted and humbled by your gift. May you receive your reward in full. (Matthew 6:4)

With love,
The Satisficer

To the rest of my readers,
Yes. I was secretly given a kindle yesterday by someone who was very sneaky and undercoverish. I had some hunches but it wasn't that easy to figure out, because I am, indeed, surrounded by generous people.

I want to me more like them. More like all those people who think, not of themselves, but of others. More like those people who daily pour out their lives and resources in big and small ways. More like those people whose eyes are on Christ and not on the fleeting treasures of this world. More like those people who live out the Kingdom here and now as they await the Kingdom to come.

I want to be an optimizer and a satisficer in the Kingdom of God.

Optimizing the opportunities and gifts He daily gives, giving them back in joyful love and service

Satisfied completely in Him.

Summer Reading #3

2011-06-16T08:11:00.000-04:00

I'm giving a talk on healthy eating and doing a cooking demo for a group of women later this summer. In preparation, I've added a couple of foodie books to my summer stack. Yesterday, I breezed through this one:

This very quick read gives Pollan's 64 "rules" that help us answer the question, "What should I eat?"

The basic answer is, in Pollan's words, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

He expands this answer with his rules which though commonsense, get lost in our day of nutritional information overload, conflicting health claims, fast food, and the decline of sit-down-at-the-table-and-enjoy-a-meal-with-your-family-and-friends eating.

Here are a few of my favorites:

#2 Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.

#13 Eat only foods that will eventually rot.

#18 Don't eat foods made in places where everyone is required to wear a surgical cap.

My favorite one, #25 Eat your colors

with an exception, #36 Don't eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk.

and finally,

#51 Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it.

Good advice. Simple guidelines. Pretty much the way we eat around here.

Even in suburbia...

2011-06-15T14:47:00.000-04:00

we have our neighborhood farmers and honor system produce stands. Makes me happy.

I paid what I hope the farmer agrees was a fair price for a nice little bag of yellow squash. We roasted them for dinner. Here's how:

Preheat oven to 450.
Slice thinly
Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray or olive oil.
Spread the squash in one layer.
Sprinkle with sea salt and lemon pepper (or plain pepper, if you prefer).
Roast for 10 minutes.
Some of the really thin pieces will get a little dark and crispy. We love 'em that way.

It was just a simple question

2011-06-14T22:47:00.002-04:00

I asked, "Do you think you would like a Kindle?"

He replied:

"Well, it would be nice for traveling..."

"But, then you wouldn't have the book if you wanted to give it away to someone."

"But, it would take up a lot less space in my carry-on."

"But, then I'd have to decide whether to buy the hardcover or the kindle edition."

My answer:

"If someone wanted to give me one, I'd happily take it and use it. And if someone gives you one and you don't like it, pass it my way."

He's an optimizer. I'm a satisficer. We complement each other that way.

It's a good thing he's the one searching for a ~~new~~ used car. My way would be faster but we'd probably end up with a clunker.

On the other hand, it's a very good thing, I'm the gardener. Satisficer that I am, when I see a pretty flower, I plant it. And feel very happy.

The daylilies and hostas are particularly lovely right now.

In the Image of the Maker

2011-06-13T17:13:00.001-04:00

I went to a retreat this weekend. First, I have to tell you how I got to go.

Waaaay back in February, I saw a link in Ann's sidebar for the retreat. I have read and loved Ann's blog for years and thought, "Oh, wouldn't that be something to get to go?" The theme of the retreat resonated with me and the thought of being with 75 makers, listening to Ann and to some beautifully talented singer-songwriters ... and it was at Caraway (a spot that holds a happy spot in our family for a variety of reasons). Well, I started hoping... sent the link to Coty ... and went off to the grocery store. Figured I talk to him about it later.

I got home. Unloaded groceries. Started dinner. Went to check email. Found a confirmation email from the retreat organizers in my inbox. Registered. Paid. Yeah, my husband did that! He knows me. He knew that I'd love being there. He clicked right on over and signed me up. He's pretty special, that man.

A few good friends of mine went, too. Amber, Carla, Jamie. And one friend, Missy, that I'd never met in person.

This was not a polished, snazzy event. This was three creative women who know their own brokenness standing nervously in front of the rest of us singing their songs and telling their stories. Why would they do that? They did it so that the rest of us would see both our brokenness and our giftedness; so that we would frame our lives and see them as art; so that we would steward our gifts; so that we, broken, leaky vessels would anoint the world with the fragrance of Christ.

We heard some beautiful music...

and some wise words...

and came home richer.

******
If you have arrived here from Ann's link, may I just say that she is incredibly generous and gracious in her words. I am so thankful for that woman. She's humble. She's real. She's a treasure. She and I had a long surprise, God-arranged conversation as she stepped off the elevator I was about to step onto. What a gift! So, thank you, Ann, for your kind words. The pleasure of meeting, hugging, and talking face to face was so very sweet.

Finished it...

2011-06-13T15:52:00.000-04:00

on my float, like I said.

Didn't know the diving board would make such a shady little spot

for an afternoon reading session.

Summer Reading #2

2011-06-13T12:17:00.001-04:00

"Louie found that the raft offered an unlikely intellectual refuge. He had never recognized how noisy the civilized world was. Here, drifting in almost total silence, with no scents other than the singed odor of the raft, no flavors on his tongue, nothing moving but the slow procession of shark fins, every vista empty save water and sky, his time unvaried and unbroken, his mind was freed of an encumbrance that civilization had imposed on it. In his head, he could roam anywhere, and he found that his mind was quick and clear, his imagination unfettered and supple. He could stay with a thought for hours, turning it about. (italics mine)

He had always enjoyed excellent recall, but on the raft, his memory became infinitely more nimble, reaching back further, offering detail that had once escaped him. One day, trying to pinpoint his earliest memory, he saw a two-story building and, inside, a stairway broken into two parts of six steps each, with a landing in between. He was there in the image, a tiny child toddling along the stairs. As he crawled down the first set of steps and moved toward the edge of the landing, a tall yellow dog stepped in front of him to stop him from tumbling off. It was his parents' dog, Askim, whom they had had in Olean, when Louie was very little. Louis had never remembered him before."

I've been marveling at the resourcefulness and sheer will it took to survive 47 days on a raft in the Pacific, cringing in horror at the inhuman treatment of vicious POW camp guards, wondering how anyone could survive all that. I'm reading Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand.

I gave this book to both Coty and my dad for Christmas. I knew my runner husband and track history and statistics buff would like it because it chronicles the incredible story of a man who literally ran his way out of a troubled youth to a spot on the 1936 Olympic track and field team. When WWII broke out, he joined the US Army Air Forces and while on a mission to look for a lost plane, his own plane crashed into the Pacific. Louie and one of the other men who survived the crash drifted in the ocean until they were captured by the Japanese Navy. They spent the rest of the war in POW camps and were thought to be dead.

I'll leave the rest of the story for you to read. Or if this isn't going on your reading list anytime soon, you can learn more here or here.

I'm heading out to my own little raft in the middle of a much smaller body of water to finish the book. There won't be any sharks or bombers strafing me. Just floating with a good book in peace - my own little "intellectual refuge" for a bit.

Spray Paint Queen

2011-06-07T15:14:00.000-04:00

This is the summer of spray paint and I am the queen.

Last summer, I picked up a few things on the side of the road. Some old plastic planters, a couple of metal lawn chairs, a little table and chair set. They weren't too pretty. But they were in good shape ... and free.

This summer they have been transformed by a wave of the paint can.

Planters for the pool deck,

Chairs for the porch with new pillows from fabric in my stash,

and the table and chairs, perfect for a morning cup of tea.

Here's the next project. A bench that my neighbor got rid of before she moved last summer. It will take more than a little spray paint to fix this baby. I'll show you when it's done.

Before the clock strikes midnight...

2011-06-03T23:50:00.000-04:00

I must wish a very happy birthday (again) to my #1 son!

Isn't he handsome!

That was on our recent trip to Denver and our visit to

Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

That's Pike's Peak in the background.

I am very thankful for such a deep thinking, compassionate, kind, fun son.

We laugh now at the way we used to butt heads.

I love you, Jonathan.

First Summer Read

2011-06-03T23:33:00.001-04:00

T's booklist led me to this first novel of the summer. I read it the week we went to the beach. It is long (850 pages) and not a light beach book, but I sat for hours as the waves washed over my feet, reading. I had the sunburn to prove it. In the morning, I was first out on the porch, reading. At night, by lamplight on the roll-away bed in the back room, I was reading:

"This morning I confessed my ongoing struggle to love my enemies, even those who are beyond reach - separated as we are by innumerable years and by a wide ocean. He told me that all the sufferings in my past are a gift....

Would I like to have the gift rescinded? Of course! Yet, in the strangest level of my self I know that it is a gift nonetheless. How else do we know God's rescue unless we have been drowning? Can healing be demonstrated without injury, or love be proven without trial? Still, there is an ache in me that cries out: what of those who were not protected, who are left unhealed, who do not know love."

I read that on a windy beach afternoon to Jenn, who has trans-oceanic struggles and the gift of hardships but knows God's rescue and healing.

"He will leave in a moment, after just one more cuplet of coffee. Europeans know how to make it right! This is the best in the world, better than the specialty brands...in the delicatessens on Fifth Avenue. Europeans understand that flavor is not about sensory stimulation, it is about evocation. It is art and memory. It is reunion with exalted moments, and such moments are never solitary ones. In short, life without coffee is not really life. The waiter brings it to him and tells him it's on the house!

With our toes in the water and the sound of waves as a backdrop, I read that to Andrew, who drank coffee last fall in Brussels, Paris, Madrid and other European cities.

"'We are so blind, so blind!' he groans, flailing his arms for emphasis, his face flushing, his voice intense with the excitement of his new discovery. 'It's as if heaven is raining miracles upon us, but we cannot see because we do not look. It's as if fabulous birds fall unceasingly from the skies!'

'Peacocks and ostriches?' she laughs.

'No, no, I mean fabulous because they exist'..."

I read that and thought of some of my students whose eyes began to be opened this year to the miracles raining down.

I haven't told you anything about the story. For that, I'll send you here. Then you decide if you want to spend 850 pages of time with this beautiful and harrowing book. If you do, I hope you will feel, as I did, that it was time well spent, that this is a book to savour, that your trek with the "walker of the world" was a journey well worth taking.

Southern Summer Sandwich

2011-06-02T08:42:00.000-04:00

over at Good Food.

Done for now

2011-06-01T09:43:00.004-04:00

OK. I'm think I'm done tweaking for now. Thanks to suggestions from Kandyce and Jennifer, I figured out how to make that blue flax from my garden fill the header space by adding a CSS code snippet and resizing the photo. Are you impressed? Don't be. Without savvy bloggy people to lead me along, I'd be lost. Thanks, you two. I also learned how to use piknik for editing from Picassa. That's a useful tool for those of us who don't have fancy-dancy photo editing software.

Now, how about a little content.

Today...

The three boys living at home this summer all head out the door to summer internships and jobs. Andrew started at Piedmont Natural Gas in the Business Development Office yesterday. Matthew begins his summer internship today with the Metrolina Baptist Association, working with churches all over the metro area. Joel continues at his regular job at Chik-fil-a, making customers happy while they eat overpriced but very tasty fast food. I know. I've described his job that way before, but it's true. They treat their customers right and have really good lemon meringue pie. Far better than the pie at Hot Fish Club. But I digress.

With the boys all gone, I'm home alone with a list a mile long.

First on that list for today, garden chores. I head out to the garden to weed, clean up massive fallen oak limbs, plant more seeds, and prepare an area out front for a tidy ground cover to replace the weeds. I wish I had a pick-up with a chain so I could pull the tree stump from the Bradford pear that fell out of the ground. Instead, I think I'll call our little local hardware store and ask for a recommendation of a local stump puller-outer.

Coty starts heading home today (he arrives tomorrow) from two and a half weeks in India. That's why there haven't been any pictures here lately. He has my camera in India, taking pictures like these.

It's dry season there and very hot. When we talked one day he told me that he was sitting in the shade thinking how nice and cool it was. It was 95 degrees. Cool, yeah.

Also, on my list for today. Reading. I have another mile long-list just for that. I might put it over in the sidebar which means that if you read this blog in google reader, you might just have to click over to the real thing. But then, you'll get to see the pretty header. So, it will be worth it. I am rambling now, so I will stop, fill my water bottle with ice water, don my gloves, and get outside where it will be about as hot as Bapatla in the shade today.

Happy June 1st!

Playing around...

2011-05-31T20:32:00.002-04:00

with the blog design. Can anyone help me with getting the blue flax photo in the header to fill the space???

Non-electronic

2011-05-06T15:23:00.001-04:00

On our flight home from Denver we scored another automatic upgrade to first class. Toward the end of the flight, Coty stood up to stretch. He looked around the cabin and then sat down to tell me that I was the only one in the cabin NOT using some sort of electronic device - laptop, e-reader, smart phone, mp3 player, you name it. Everybody else was plugged in.

I was connected to a different type of cord. Lllama silk yarn, that is, which will someday be this sweater. One of the nice things about spending time with Kandyce is that she showed me all kinds of great patterns and gave me lots of ideas. This is one of them.

Self-timer

2011-05-06T11:32:00.000-04:00

My husband loves a challenge. Like self-timer pictures on a mountainside, jumping across rocks to get into the picture.

Thing is... you don't always know when that shutter is going to click so you aren't ready...

or you don't make it back it time.

But if you don't give up, you get your picture!

Test time

2011-05-06T00:19:00.002-04:00

I got home just in time for ...

test time.

Yep. It's that season.

I'm up late tonight finishing writing the final exam for my field biology students.
My students take it over the next week.
Then I grade it.
Then I'm done!

Tuesday, Joel took a precalculus exam.
Tomorrow, he takes his first AP exam of the season.
The next day, he takes the SAT.
The next Wednesday, he takes another AP exam.
Then he has one more final - for chemistry.
Then he's done!

He told me the other day that he is looking forward to reading books this summer, just for fun. That boy has studied hard this year and he is really ready to sit on the porch swing with a novel and read just because he wants to.

I'm glad that he has had some challenging classes this year, that he has worked his way through a lot of material, taking copious notes along the way, that he has studied and drilled and taken practice exams, that he is a diligent student.

I'm even happier that he is a reader. When the days of classes and test taking are over, a reader's world is boundless. When school is done, a reader goes right on learning... on a porch swing with a cold glass of lemonade.

Eighteenth Monday

2011-05-03T01:21:00.000-04:00

Mostly thankful today...

for our oldest son, Jonathan and his wife, Kandyce and for the opportunity to visit them here in Denver;

for meeting their Iraqi family and spending an afternoon in the beautiful Denver Botanic Garden with them;

for Jonathan and Kandyce's compassionate, giving hearts,

for their good friends,

their church,

their work,

their home;

for shopping (Fancy Tiger!), yoga class, knitting, and talking sewing with Kandyce,

for cooking and cleaning up together,

for hiking and seeing strikingly beautiful places,

for great conversations,

laughing over old stories,

and seeing a child I butted heads with so often in his younger years grown into such a fine young man married to an amazing woman I dearly love.

hiking with J and K in the Flatirons today

2004-2024

In the garden

2011-04-28T00:05:00.000-04:00

Blue flax

I love these little flowers. I'd like to have a terrace full.

The gerbera that won't quit.

The terrace beds are all planted.

The top is herbs - lavender, cilantro, basil and rosemary.

Second terrace is spinach and beets with a few lettuce plants and blue flax on the corner

The third terrace has lemon thyme and parsley plus newly planted dill and bush beans and penstemmon, comfrey and chives planted last year.

The bottom terrace has irises, a lovely fragrant variegated rose, leeks, perpetual spinach from the fall, and daylilies.

Along the bottom, in the retaining wall garden, (you can see the pool fence and edge of the pool just beyond it) from left to right, lamb's ears with a potted gardenia between them, two kinds of lettuce, two kinds of chard, banana peppers, radishes and then the shady area with a cranesbill geranium, caladiums, impatiens, bleeding heart, more lamb's ears and a potted lady's mantle. (that last little shady section was planted after I took the picture, sorry).

Along the top of the wall are shasta daisies, black-eyed Susans, knock-out roses, and hostas.

I may plant some purple lobelia or petunias along in front of this section.

And on the other side of the brick walk, just across from the retaining wall bed, a little mulched pathway and beds that are starting to fill in nicely with hostas, coral bells, gold dust acubas, lemon balm, and growing up the lattice on one side, a Lady Banks rose, and on the other side, a fall clematis. At the end of this walk is another bed (that you can't see) where I am trying straw bale gardening for cucumbers. There is also bee balm, purple salvia, obedient plant, and another rosemary just beyond the old garden chair.

In front of the retaining wall, the Julia Child (knock-out type) roses that I planted last year are doing beautifully this year. I've just reworked this area, weeding, digging, amending the soil and moving the yellow Asiatic lilies and planting a ground cover of purple vinca. I have mulch for the path here and am pleased that this area, that was rather an eyesore last year, is starting to look prettier.

I've dug a new bed near the pool, in the corner between the bricks and the new pool fence. I'm watching the sun here and think that it is a close second in exposure to my top terraces. I really have so little sun in this garden. It is a challenge to find spots with a full six hours (about the minimum for really productive veggies). But this spot is looking pretty good and it is all ready for tomatoes and flowers - zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, four o'clocks, larkspur, and yarrow.

There is another area beside this new bed to dig, and pots to plant with container type cherry tomatoes and peppers. I am hoping for a very productive and beautiful garden this year. I do love such a mix of vegetables, flowers, herbs, and perennials.

There are a lot of challenges in this garden - slopes, heavy clay soil, shade from large oaks and hickories - but it is evolving into a lovelier garden each year. And that is what makes a gardener happy... more to do and more beauty to coax out, nurture, and enjoy.

Ribbonwalk

2011-04-26T06:53:00.001-04:00

The next Monday, Coty and I explored Ribbonwalk. This is not part of the Greenway system, but is a nature preserve, now managed by the Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation Department. Covering 188 acres, just north of the intersection of I-77 and I-85, this spot is a little woodland oasis.

What I love about this nature preserve is the variety of habitats and seral stages, from a Piedmont old field, through the various stages - young pine forest, mature pines, young hardwood forest to a climax mature hardwood forest. A very unique feature is the Beech Grove with a number of very large American beech trees which are estimated to be 150-200 years old. This particular grove of trees has been designated a Treasure Tree Grove and there are some massive and beautiful old beeches.

There are a few very old white oaks, as well, including this one which has been wired from the top to the ground to protect it from lightning strikes. Several of the old scags are the remains of trees that were struck by lightning.

We were shocked to see this beech, one of the "treasure trees" that had fallen, probably in one of the big storms we've had in the last few weeks. It still had green leaves on it, so it's demise was very recent. I climbed around on the tree and felt like I was walking on the back of an elephant! Not that I've ever walked on an elephant's back, mind you, but I imagine...

When the beech fell, it took out a bridge and several smaller trees. It left a huge gap in the canopy, as well. So sad to see it down, but when we looked at the trunk, it was rotten in the middle. It was one of the largest and oldest trees in the grove.

In addition to the woodland habitat, there are two ponds and a wetland area. Beavers appear to be very active. A beaver lodge can be seen on one of the ponds and a beaver dam crosses another. We saw fresh beaver work, small trees chiseled to a point when they are cut down. People do fish in these ponds. We met a man enjoying the quiet, fishing the first pond you come to - he told us he comes out to Ribbonwalk to get away from the world. It is a lovely spot close to the city to do that.

We went in the middle of the day, so not the best time for birding, but we did see a great blue heron, mallards and Canada geese, a variety of songbirds, and we heard a barred owl.

I took both of my classes back to Ribbonwalk in the following week. It's a perfect spot to observe ecological succession and to appreciate big, old, beautiful trees. Kudos to the folks who worked hard to preserve this spot and keep urban growth from overtaking it.

Walking the Greenways, #2

2011-04-25T21:10:00.001-04:00

Better late than never, right? A few weeks ago, while I was neglecting the blog, Coty and I walked another one of our area Greenways. We had a lovely, sunny Monday - was it three weeks back - and took time to walk part of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.

The plan is to eventually have 15 miles of linked trails, starting just north of uptown Charlotte all the way to the South Carolina line. Currently, there are three unconnected sections, so we figured we'd do the northern section, part of the middle section and save the southern section for another day.

When we arrived at the parking area we found this sign. Bummer. We did try calling the number, but just got someone's voice mail.

We walked past the soccer field at Alexander Park, but the gang graffiti under the railroad bridge was not so welcoming and we decided, since it is officially closed right now, to save this section for another day. From Alexander Park, this section goes up to Cordelia Park on the southern end of NoDa. It will be a well used section, someday. But it wasn't the day we tried. We will go back. Here's more about this section.

On to Plan B. We headed to Charlottetown Avenue and parked along the street (free parking for two hours) and found the northern end of this newest section of Little Sugar Creek. If you've lived in Charlotte for any length of time, you may remember that this section of town, just north of CMC, was rather an eyesore for a long time. An old, closed mall and large parking lot sat beside a sad looking, dirty creek. I don't know the whole story, but the powers-that-be got together and tore down the mall, built condos, and some large and small retail, a few restaurants and best of all, worked on creek and habitat restoration and made it a lovely place for a walk near downtown. I was impressed.

This is looking north to the point where this Greenway section starts. See where the pavement ends just before it goes under the bridge. Someday, this will be linked up, around or through uptown somehow, to the Alexander Park section and on up to NoDa.

Banners line this little section, diners sat at outdoor tables. Really, this little walkway is quite a treasure. Someone had a lot of foresight when they planned this.

The creek restoration includes some nice stone work at spots where other creeks and storm water drain into Little Sugar Creek.

Just near the hospital, lots of redbuds, wisteria, and other flowering shrubs in were in full bloom. If I worked at the hospital, I know where I'd take my breaks!

South to Freedom Park...

We walked about halfway through the park and then turned around and headed back north. We had a deadline...

My walking partner and I were headed to see Jane Eyre at the Regal Manor after our walk. We wanted to get done in plenty of time to make our 2:00 matinée!

Nice views of the city skyline heading north.

This was a lovely walk. I'd go again. Freedom Park is beautiful, especially in the spring. We plan to pick up where we stopped in the park and finish this central section, then drive a little south and pick up the southernmost section another day soon.

To read a little more about Little Sugar Creek Greenway, go here and here.

I promised you a picture

2011-04-25T20:18:00.000-04:00

Here it is.

Erin and Clara in their Easter pretties.

Pretty sweaters and pretty dresses.

Beautiful Mama and daughter.

Seventeeth Monday

2011-04-25T11:06:00.000-04:00

For simple things, like

sheets billowing in the warm spring breeze,

Morning light,

tiny, fragrant garden treasures,

outdoor learning days,

and turtles on a log.

I give thanks.

And of course, there is more,

Much, much more....

Resurrection!

and celebrating it early

with a birdsong choir in the background

followed by breakfast

with our church family

an original Easter poem

and words that stirred

the love of our family

having boys home

laughing on the porch

Easter afternoon time with extended family

fun, games, talk, laughter

a phone call with my oldest best friend

morning time with friend, C, to spur each other on toward godliness

my Thursday morning women - we talk, study, pray

meeting Albert's parents and

dinner on the porch with

stories and friends,

helping hands and

the best food, shared

the first wood thrush of the spring

heard on awakening this morning

a walk

spring growth

garden promise

dirt to dig

seeds to plant

waiting expectantly for germination

picking herbs

a whiff of a fragrant rose

1768- 2003!