I love it here. The June sun is so bright on our western-facing house that in the late afternoon it's nearly impossible to see the face of the person standing on our front porch when I answer the doorbell. There is often a breeze floating through and when it turns to wind it powers across … Continue reading 83651
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Small
A while back there was a meeting called. It required one free day without rain, a semi organized plan, and the motivation to not chicken out. Location: Where the Pacific Meets the Shore Participants: Sovereign Creator God and Me Agenda: I. Sitting Still II. A Little Nostalgia III. Scenery IV. Perspective If you are familiar … Continue reading Small
All the Apple Pies
Even a brand new S.O.S. pad can have trouble scrubbing off certain greebage (a wonderful word coined by my beloved) from oven racks. The baked-on crud doesn't want to give up. I am woman though. Hear me roar. In classic early morning style, as I bent over the kitchen sink at 4:45 a.m. doing chores … Continue reading All the Apple Pies
Trees of Life
To plant a tree is to begin a memory. I'm a big believer in the power of growing plants along with growing the family. A measure of a kid or two or three or four can be marked right along with the rings of a tree I've left here and there across our pathway. And … Continue reading Trees of Life
Turbulence, T-Shirt Tags, and Trains
International air travel. An acquired taste. The few places I've ventured to out of my home country can be counted on one hand -- at least I think they can. Let's see. England, Scotland, France, Monaco, Italy, Ukraine, and Ecuador. Oh, wait. Mexico and Canada. And I did not fly to those two. And clearly … Continue reading Turbulence, T-Shirt Tags, and Trains
Hot Tea with Cream and Sugar
During my childhood in times of distress, illness, worry, or just general agitation I could count on two things from my mother -- a warm washcloth to the face and a steaming cup of tea with cream and sugar. You have your stuff. I have mine. To this day my blood pressure lowers a dozen … Continue reading Hot Tea with Cream and Sugar
Donkey Kong New Year
Back when social media was more fun and frolic than politics and pandemic, there were a few words written by a younger me (subtract 10 from what you think I am now) on straight-up Facebook, not buried in a blog. I'll put them here just for fun but you're excused to skip over and go … Continue reading Donkey Kong New Year
O Christmas Tree
It's easy to blame 2020 for many a habit or "quirk" as I like to call them, but if we're honest, a few of those tendencies were already firmly established before this year rolled around and we'd best just own up to it. Yes, I speak of myself. You're off the hook. I have a … Continue reading O Christmas Tree
This Is Now
Around the time that first memories were becoming solid and not just fleeting images of grandmas and old houses and smells and scenes, I can remember a Thanksgiving in Houston, Texas at my Great Uncle Clyde and Aunt Juanita's house. We'd traveled there from Colorado and when I crawled into my lovingly prepared cot at … Continue reading This Is Now
‘Til It’s Gone
I appreciate a good 2020 joke as much as the next guy. My kids and I zing 'em back and forth within text and messenger threads--“Say, did you hear this one?"-- most every day. And 2020 is no longer just the name of a year. It's an outright adjective for whatever's run amok. "That's so … Continue reading ‘Til It’s Gone
Beyond Lashley Lane 