Ten Years

I was browsing through Facebook earlier this evening when I saw a post published from a town nearby.  It showed the decorations and banner a family had put up memorializing their daughter as part of the Turn The Towns Teal campaign for ovarian cancer awareness.

I looked at the date on my computer and it hit me.  Ten years ago, tonight, we sat vigil with my mom as she lost her battle with that cancer.  Usually I am hyper-aware of this approaching date.  I remember most everything about that night - what we ate for dinner, talking with the hospice nurse, sitting quietly with mom, holding her hand.

Somehow, this year, it snuck up on me.  Maybe that is good.  Rather than being focused on when and how she died, after ten years it is more important to remember how Mom lived.

She was kind. Not nice, but kind.  Nice tells people what they want to hear.  Kind tells them what they need to hear, with gentleness and love.  Mom built relationships with people and saw the good in them, even when they couldn't find it themselves.  She wasn't one to be taken advantage of, but was generous with her time and talent.  She showed, through example, how to be a good wife, a good mother, sister and friend.

I love when we think of her, we remember her good traits and forget the bad.  It reminds me to work on those things that are true, good and beautiful so that someday, ten years after my passing, people will smile and do the same.


AMDG

Dirt Therapy

I don't think I have ever gone this long without writing.  Well, I guess I have, I just checked.

It isn't as though I don't have anything to say.  I do.  It's just a matter of sitting down and putting it down in some coherent fashion.

It isn't that I am so busy that I don't have time.  I do.  And, dare I say, I've been a bit bored.  I have been catching up on The Closer, by way of Amazon Prime, and there is only so much of Brenda Leigh Johnson I can take in one sitting.

It has been a weird summer. Quiet, mostly, punctuated with a variety of things - a death in the family, jury duty, a geriatric dog with health issues, a family member in ICU, a work trip to the west coast.  Life happening.

Tonight, after dinner, I put my grubbies on and headed out to the yard to finish a project I started a month or so ago.  I haven't been able to do much in the last couple of weeks because of the weather.  Either it has been in the nineties with high, horrid humidity or in the sixties and rain.  Neither of which I want to be out working in.

But tonight was perfect.  Seventy degrees and a pleasant breeze.  I dug out weeds and moved large rocks and planted grass seed.  I got dirty and sweaty and it felt good.

There is something about "playing" in the dirt that is refreshing and restorative.  It's quiet but it's not.  If I listen, really listen, I hear birds and bugs and other critters and the rustling of leaves.

Concentrating on the work at hand with the symphony of nature playing in the background helps quiet my mind.  Pulling weeds and planting flowers and watering the gardens provides an up-close glimpse into just a tiny part of God's great design.  It is a reminder of all that is good, even in the midst of what, perhaps, seems not to be.

We often refer to yardwork as Dirt Therapy.  It doesn't take much time outside to wash away the worries and aggravations of the day.  And, it's much cheaper than a shrink!

“Properly speaking, of course, there is no such thing as a return to nature, because there is no such thing as a departure from it. The phrase reminds one of the slightly intoxicated gentleman who gets up in his own dining room and declares firmly that he must be getting home.” 

– The Chesterton Review, August, 1993

AMDG

When Was the Last Time

Have you heard the latest Darius Rucker song "The First Time"?  For me, it's one of those tunes that just sticks in my head when I hear it on the radio.  I especially like the refrain.

When was the last time you did something for the first time?
Yeah, let yourself go, follow that feeling
Maybe something new is what you're needing
Like a real life, let your hair down, feel alive
When was the last time you did something for the first time?

I took it to heart and did something for the first time.  As I mentioned in the previous post, our county fair was this past week.  A couple weeks before, I bought our tickets to the Demolition Derby.  I had never been to one and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. 

I started out the evening with another first - a corn dog.  I have never had one before and was surprised at just how good it was.  It was gourmet fair food, folks!   After that, we settled in for the main event. 

When I bought the tickets, from the seat map I could tell not many tickets had sold.  By Friday night, though, just about every seat was taken.  

The event started out with the National Anthem (no kneeling!) and then the kids "derby" was held.  It looked like herding cats, trying to get a dozen little ones in their battery operated cars to the starting lines.  But, what a hoot once they started!

Then the main event commenced.  The precautionary fire fighters took their spots and the front loaders positioned huge tires around the perimeter.  In multiple heats, cars that looked like they shouldn't be able to move at all took the field and went at it.  Bumpers, if they still had them, fell off.  Axles broke and smoke spewed.  Most of the cars were hauled off by front loaders.  The few that lasted each round moved on to the final heat.    

Holy cow, it was fun!  You want to know something?  I can seeing giving this a try.

What have you done for the first time?

AMDG

Kissed By a Cow

When I was a kid we never went to the fair.  I think the first time I went was well after college.  Mom was working for the local Soil and Water Conservation District and had to man their booth at the fair for a couple of shifts.  She gave me one of her "comp" tickets and I met her for dinner one evening after work.  I remember her drinking birch beer and me having some of the best onions rings ever.  We went to see the draft horses, but had to leave the barn because the smell of ammonia was so bad we were getting dizzy.

Fast forward a couple of decades and a different county.  Tim and I went to our fair last year for the first time.  We enjoyed it so much that this year I took a day off from work and we spent a good while just wandering the grounds and seeing what was there to see.  And, there was a lot to see.

Animals were definitely the best part. I don't remember ever seeing so many rabbits in one place. One cow seemed to like me, a lot.  She gave me lots of "kiss licks" as my niece would call them.  There wasn't anything dainty about it, unless getting kissed by 100 grit sandpaper counts. 

I've decided that I like goats much better than sheep.  Goats are cute and curious; the sheep were whiners, bleating loudly, just because.  When one of the sheep decided it didn't want to go to the ring for its showing, it took off running.  Through several barns it went, until it was cornered by nearly a dozen people and a movable fence.

The arts and crafts were okay.  As I wandered through both the photography and quilt exhibits, I kept thinking I could do better than that.  But, the exhibitors did one thing I didn't do.  They entered.  Maybe next year.

Who knew that there was a competition for alfalfa? And the choices in Fair food are almost endless, but once again we had Philly steak sandwiches.  Some things are just tradition.   Like watching poised young ladies, and one young man, make their big beastly horses dance in the ring.

We'll definitely be back next year!

AMDG

Quick Takes (37): Lessons from an almost six year old

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Back in June my sister and her girlfriends since high school were celebrating a milestone birthday reached by all of them over the last year.  Along with their husbands, they had rented a villa at a local winery.  By all reports, they had a good time catching up, relaxing and partaking in the winery’s tasty beverages, though not nearly as much as I would have thought.

My almost-six-year-old niece stayed with us, arriving at lunchtime on Friday.  Sara has been looking forward to this as much as we had been.  We had a blast.  That child is so full of joy and imagination.  It all comes out in nonstop chatter and little ditties that she frequently sings.  Let's just say we three, and I include the dog in this, are not used to such volume!  We are generally a quiet bunch.

However much we try to teach her and set good examples, there is always something we learn from her.  This weekend was no exception.

- 2 -

Entertainment comes in many forms

A friend made a few suggestions, pointing out a number of craft kits Sara might like. On the way home from work the day before, I stopped and bought this stepping stone kit. Sara loved working on it, especially since it had glitter that she could sprinkle, everywhere, on the stone and off. But that project lasted fifteen minutes, twenty tops.

What grabbed her attention were simple things.  We painted rocks, ran through the sprinkler, and used a spool of string to make a very large spider web around the garden.  And, of course, the spiders that lived in that web had to eat, so we hunted for "bugs", aka pine cones, and leaves to attach to the web.

Even one of our digital cameras entertained her for quite a while.  She could take as many pictures as she wanted, or at least as long as the battery lasted.  This is one of her masterpieces. 

- 3 -

Life’s a musical

She sings!  Oh, she sings!  For a while I thought she was singing what she had heard in school or on TV or the radio.  But, no, the songs are ones she makes up and describes whatever might have caught her fancy at the moment.  They are lovely, fanciful, pretty little ditties sung in her sweet voice.

- 4 -

Eat what you like and like what you eat

My niece is a picky eater.  There is no doubt about that.  But when she like something, she eats it with gusto and isn't afraid to ask for more, even if it is just a plain old hamburger bun.

- 5 - 

Sometimes things are scary in the dark

The first night she was with us, she nodded off to sleep fairly quickly, though not in her own bed in the guest room.  Shortly after I had tucked her in and said our evening prayers, she snuck out and crawled into bed with me.  The next night, she wandered downstairs where Tim was reading.  They talked for a while.  He figured out that she was feeling a little homesick and scared, which I never picked up.  What a beautiful conversation they had!  After praying and blessing everyone, Sara curled up on the couch and was out for the night.

- 6 -

Be kind and mindful of others' feelings

When her daddy came to pick her up, BIL asked her what her favorite part of the weekend was.  Without pause she answered, "Playing with Uncle Tim."  She glanced over at me and quickly added "and Aunt Donna."  She was worried that I would feel left out and made sure that I was included.  That girl has such a generous heart!

Posing with her "spider web"

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“What was wonderful about childhood is that anything in it was a wonder. It was not merely a world full of miracles; it was a miraculous world.” 

― G.K. Chesterton

Don't forget to check out more Quick Takes at This Ain't The Lyceum.

Have a great weekend!

AMDG

Reading Genius

A few weeks ago, my almost six year old niece was having a conversation with Himself.  She told him, "Mommy said that you and Aunt Donna are reading geniuses."  I stopped listening there.  I have never been called a genius at anything.  My sister thinks that?

I have always loved to read.  Growing up, I was the kid in class that got in trouble for reading too much.  Is there such a thing?  My family made bi-weekly trips to the library and when I finished reading the books I picked out I would start in on what my dad had chosen.  I think I read Surgeon Under the Knife and books by Dorothy Fuldheim when I was in Junior High.

I remember hiding my books between the mattresses.  After I got tucked-in for the night, I would slip them out and read by flashlight under the covers.

I track my books on GoodReads and set a goal for the year of forty books.  As we near the halfway point of the year, I am closing in on that goal.  I have read mostly fiction with just a couple of biographies thrown in for good measure.

At the beginning of the year I created a list on GoodReads, 2018-to-read, of a dozen books that I own that I have been wanting to read and haven't.  I think it is about time to get started on them.

Primal Loss: The Now-Adult Children of Divorce Speak by Leila Miller  

There has been a lot of discussion of this book on Leila's FB book club.  I think it will be an enlightening read as one who grew up in an intact family.  I have a feeling, too, that will also be a bit depressing.

What's Wrong with the World by G.K. Chesterton

It's GKC.  What more needs to be said?

The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder edited by William Anderson

When I was young, the Little House books were my favorite.  So much so, I tried to convince my parents to plan one of our vacations around visiting the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum in Mansfield, MO.  That didn't happen, but I still have those books and look forward to passing them on to my niece.  I won this book on GoodReads and really need to get to reading and reviewing it.

Setting the World on Fire: The Brief, Astonishing Life of St. Catherine of Siena by Shelly Emling

I have see some of St. Catherine's quote, but I know nothing of her life.  I want to learn more.

The Woman Who Was Chesterton by Nancy Carpenter Brown

It is reported that on several occasions GKC sent a telegram to his wife Frances from some distant (and incorrect) location, writing such things as "Am in Market Harborough. Where ought I to be?"  A woman married to such an eccentric and a genius has to be some sort of special herself.  I want to know more.

Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #3) by Ransom Riggs

I read the first two books in this series and they were terrific.  I started on this one a while back and, while the writing is still excellent, I found it much darker than the first two.  I think it's one of those books that I will just have to be in the mood to read.

Everything Is Grace: The Life and Way of Therese of Lisieux by  Joseph F. Schmidt

St. Therese is my confirmation saint and I have read her autobiography and her letter.  I would still like to know more about her.

The Golden Slipper and Other Problems for Violet Strange by Anna Katharine Green

Himself thoroughly enjoyed these stories and they come highly recommended. 

Old Thunder by Joseph Pearce

I have been lucky enough, albeit briefly, to meet and speak with Mr. Pearce.  I am awed by his life story and his brilliance.  One of the best books I ever read was his biography of GKC, Wisdom and Innocence.  If this biography of Hillaire Belloc is half has good, I am in for a real treat.

Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Rober E. Barron

I have had my copy of this book since shortly after it came out and well before he became a Bishop. 

Good Eats: The Middle Years by Alton Brown

When we still had cable, this show was one of my favorites to watch on the Food Network.  I like learning the science behind cooking different foods.  I can see why technique makes such a big difference for some items.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

We were going to read this for a book club that I was in.  But life got busy and I had to drop out of the group.  It's been sitting on the shelf for many years just waiting to be read, club or no club.

AMDG

WIP(#14) - Done and Almost Done

They say time flies when you're having fun, so I guess I must be having a blast.  Actually, I think I am.  I love this time of year.  The weather is great.  The yard is bright and green and vibrant.  And there is always something to do.

I put the sewing machine away for a while, but not before finishing a few projects.  The gray fleece jacket turned out fairly well.  I had gotten partway through sewing it, then put it aside to work on the baby quilt.  And then it took me a while to get back to it.  Somehow I had convinced myself that the remaining sewing that I had to do on it was going to be difficult.  You know how long it took me to finish it?  Twenty minutes.  I don't know why I do that to myself.  Make something seem harder than it actually is.  Weird.

The fun project was the baby quilt below.  Once I figured out what I wanted to do and found just the right fabrics, it came together rather nicely.  The teddy bear print is a Boyd's Bear print and is just as sweet as can be.  I sent it off to the mom-to-be about a month ago, hopefully long before baby arrives.

The current in progress project is, of course, mulching the gardens.  This year I only had four yards delivered instead of the usual five.  I started it with great gusto and then got side-tracked.  As of yesterday, though, I probably have less than a yard of it to go.

Working in the gardens, weeding and mulching, has been therapeutic.  I don't deal with "stupid" very well, and lately I have been encountering a lot of it, both at work and on the roads.  I suppose the good  Lord is trying to teach me patience or some other profound lesson, but I'm having none of it.  Yanking weeks lets me work out my frustrations!

"Only" four yards

Mulched - Done on the left, Almost Done on the right!

AMDG

Funny Foto #21: What's Yours?

On the way to work I pass a gas station that has a mobile sign out front that they update often.  The latest one amuses me.  Wonder why?

But I am reminded of a quote by GK Chesterton:

"We should thank God for beer and burgundy by not drinking too much of them."

AMDG

QuickTakes(36): Beautiful Artwork and a Giveaway

- 1 -

We have attended a number of Chesterton conferences where they have something I refer to as "Merchant Row."  Different vendors set up displays or booths in which they sell their products.  More often than not, most of the merchants are selling books.  Back in 2011, we went to the conference that was held in St. Louis where artist and iconographer, Daniel Mitsui, had a magnificent display of his works.

- 2 - 

While he has different types of work, his religious drawings are what really pull me in. The detail in each one is stunning. 

Feasts of Christmas

St. Elizabeth

Sacred Heart

St. Damien of Molokai

- 3 -

He was commissioned to draw a set of altar cards, in ink on calfskin vellum with gold and palladium leaf details.  They are beautiful and incredibly detailed.

- 4 -

Daniel had created a series of Coloring Books that were published by Ave Maria Press. 

- 5 -

Since the conference back in 2011, I have been receiving Daniel's monthly newsletter.  He updates his readers with what is happing with his artwork and what new items he has recently created.  You can subscribe by sending an e-mail to danielmitsuiartist@gmail.com.

- 6 -

Daniel has graciously provided me with a set of his bookplates that I will give to one winner.  To enter, visit his website and leave a comment here on what piqued your interest.  I will draw a name next Friday, May 11th.

Drawing CLOSED.  

The winner is Lynda.  

- 7 -

"Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere."

 - GK Chesterton

Don't forget to check out more Quick Takes at This Ain't The Lyceum.

Have a great weekend!

AMDG