1) That walking to and from town is now a piece of cake.
I've made a little "rule" for myself recently, that unless it is precipitating in some way, is slippery, or there are other extenuating circumstances, I will make the journey to and from town under my own steam.
2) Good strong coffee with cream.
Does this require any explaining?
I didn't think so.
Well, maybe just a little... in that, not every coffee shop in England has cream... the usual liquid to make a coffee 'white' here is milk (hot or cold). And since the color of coffee is paramount for me, in addition to being very, very hot, milk doesn't cut it... if I try using milk, it takes too much to get the right color... and then the coffee is no longer piping hot, even if I used hot milk.
Does anyone know what I'm talking about?
3) Sore muscles after a good workout.
There are those who think me loony when I say I love being sore... but, there are others who understand what I mean... they are my kindred spirits. I'm not talking about injuring oneself and loving that. What I'm talking about is asking my body to do what it was meant to do, and having it come through for me! And knowing that my muscles are growing and becoming better fat burning machines. Its all good!
sending love-
susie
Friday, December 30, 2011
Chipwrecked, with the Chipmunks, Chipettes & Cheech and Chong
Who are Cheech and Chong you ask?
Melissa and Stuarts two wonderful girls.
Not their real names, no.
But then, I probably didn't really need to tell you that, did I?
They've been off from school for the last couple of weeks, so, there's been alot of fun activities going on!
I had the honor of taking them for dinner and a movie last week, as a Christmas gift to them, from me. Though I think it was more a gift to myself!
We were planning to go to the 6pm show, so we walked down to town about 4:30.
We caught an early dinner at The Catherine Wheel. It is a great, inexpensive family oriented pub here in town. I like that they let me order a kids meal too... I had something traditional... cold ham slices with a fried egg and chips. The girls had their usual, chicken nuggets, baked beans and chips.
I'm not sure if they all do, but, many of the movie theatres here in England have reserved seating and require purchasing tickets ahead of time! I had purchased our tickets online earlier in the day. But, as it turned out we ended up getting to the movie theatre very early, and could not get into the theatre itself as there was another movie going... So, we sat in the lobby and enjoyed eating most of our popcorn before the movie.
Chipwrecked... what can I say? I've seen the other Chipmunk movies and this one was similarly, silly, funny and entertaining enough so that we got our fill of laughing!
M&S had opportunity to go out for a dinner date of their own, that night...
and... A good time was had by all!
ho-ho-ho
susie
Melissa and Stuarts two wonderful girls.
Not their real names, no.
But then, I probably didn't really need to tell you that, did I?
They've been off from school for the last couple of weeks, so, there's been alot of fun activities going on!
I had the honor of taking them for dinner and a movie last week, as a Christmas gift to them, from me. Though I think it was more a gift to myself!
We were planning to go to the 6pm show, so we walked down to town about 4:30.
We caught an early dinner at The Catherine Wheel. It is a great, inexpensive family oriented pub here in town. I like that they let me order a kids meal too... I had something traditional... cold ham slices with a fried egg and chips. The girls had their usual, chicken nuggets, baked beans and chips.
I'm not sure if they all do, but, many of the movie theatres here in England have reserved seating and require purchasing tickets ahead of time! I had purchased our tickets online earlier in the day. But, as it turned out we ended up getting to the movie theatre very early, and could not get into the theatre itself as there was another movie going... So, we sat in the lobby and enjoyed eating most of our popcorn before the movie.
Chipwrecked... what can I say? I've seen the other Chipmunk movies and this one was similarly, silly, funny and entertaining enough so that we got our fill of laughing!
M&S had opportunity to go out for a dinner date of their own, that night...
and... A good time was had by all!
ho-ho-ho
susie
Movies and Things That Go Scratch, Scratch, Crinkle, Crinkle in the Night
After John dropped me back off at Bore Place Friday afternoon, I was going to be on my own until his workshop Sunday Morning.
I made a fire in the woodstove, creating a goodly amount of smoke in the process (too much newspaper). I was hoping I would not set off a fire alarm somewhere!
Thankfully, I did not.
John had given me a map of the property and also a map of the local footpaths that connect to it. I decided to save the walk for Saturday and just gather up all of my wood and dinner etc. and just get cozy for the afternoon and evening.
My McAfee Antivirus Software had been telling me for several days, first, that "I was going to be without protection" and then that my computer was NOT PROTECTED and susceptible to any number of horrible things. I contemplated trying to re-up with McAfee and decided the very last thing in the world I wanted just then, was that aggravation.
I opted instead to watch "The Santa Clause", on YouTube, in 10 minute increments. A little bit of a hassle, but it was worth it for a little holiday cheer. What I really wanted to watch though, was "White Christmas", with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye...
If I was a smarter cookie, I might have just said forget it and dug out my book when the YouTube thing diverted me to a different website.
Apparently. Not. Smarter. Though.
There was the movie opening playing ... how bad could it be? It seemed like a website on the up-and-up, I mean, they are showing a Bing Crosby movie for crying out loud. How much more wholesome can you get?
So I tried to watch... but it kept getting hung up at the same point. I think I watched the first 7 minutes six or seven times, dealing with various pop-up ads (thanks to no McAfee) until, the last straw was an ad asking "if I wanted to know what Russian girls were available in the area".
Um. As a matter of fact, NO, I do not...
Or Russian men either for that matter.
Nothing against Russian men or women.
My resolve to watch White Christmas died a pain free death, because there was my computer in it's 'unprotected' state and the last thing I wanted was some stinkin' virus taking over. That was the end of my movie night. That's OK. I did have the book after all.
So I got myself all settled in bed and cozy under the comforter with my book... and the next thing I knew I was waking up... it was something like 11 and 1/2 minutes later...
Have I mentioned that reading sometimes puts me to sleep?
So much for reading then... I turned off the light. And was just about to doze off again, when I heard something. I tried to ignore it and pretend I wasn't halfway back to a state of wakefulness. Then I heard it again...
You know how, when you are a kid and someone is saying something you don't want to listen to, you stick your fingers in your ears and say "la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la"... to drown them out?
(OK. All right. I distinctly heard someone say - "Hah! Whatd'ya mean by, 'When you are a kid' You still do that!" It was either Kathy, Bernie, Lee or Karen. I know it was one of you.)
That's what I was trying to do... minus the actual sticking of fingers in my ears... and minus the 'la-la' part too...
Surprisingly, no... it really wasn't all that effective.
I turned on the light and sat up, listening intently.
Nothing but silence. And the sound of my own heart beating in my ears.
I was having a short little conversation with myself when I heard it again. A tiny little sound... like little feet scratching on a hard surface or someone gently crinkling a plastic bag. I got up out of my warm bed, grabbed my torch from the bedside table (QUIZ... do you remember what a torch is?) and looked in and under everything. That loft was clean and neat as a pin. Except for my clothes, hung, draped and otherwise strewn about. Absolutely nothing anywhere that could possibly be making that little sound. I satisfied myself beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was nothing living in that loft with me.
It had to be something outside, a branch or something, being blown by the wind and scratching against the side of the barn maybe, or the roof.
(I will confess that this was what my first night there had been like as well... I had slept in fits and starts).
A little more talking out loud to 'moi'. A decision to turn off the alarm and sleep in in the morning since I was now awake so late! And then off with the light again and... eventually... sweet slumber.
It was 8 am before I fully woke up. I crawled out of bed and went down to wee and make a pot of coffee which I then brought back upstairs with me, along with my computer deciding to tackle the task of getting the McAfee Virus Software renewed while I was still fresh.
Right.
You will not believe how long that took.
4 hours.
I bet in that time my Internet connection failed 20 times, easily, probably more. I'd get partway through the McAfee form and would need to 'continue' to the next page and I'd lose the connection.
It was frustrating.
To say the least.
I don't know why I persevered in it, really. I just get stubborn about some things and have a hard time 'giving up' because I think "What if this is the time it will work?!" I have an even harder time giving up on people and relationships.
I am never sure if the message I am getting from upstairs is saying...
"Don't give up Susie!" OR "Susie, would you give up already!?"
If any of you know how to tell the difference, would you please let me know?
Anyhoo...
McAfee installed. I made myself some lunch and then it was time to get outside for a walk!
My plan was to walk around the gardens first and then do the 2.5 mile walk around/through the Bore Place property.
My camera battery died before I was even halfway through the gardens. During my trying train travels I had been thinking I had managed to pack everything but the kitchen sink. Well, guess what else I didn't pack?
My camera battery charger.
Dang.
Next time I'm there, I'll get the rest.
So. I've downloaded all the pics I have from my camera now I need to upload them to the blog...
That will take some time.
'C'est la vie'.
love-
susie
PS... QUIZ ANSWER: a torch is a flashlight!
I made a fire in the woodstove, creating a goodly amount of smoke in the process (too much newspaper). I was hoping I would not set off a fire alarm somewhere!
Thankfully, I did not.
John had given me a map of the property and also a map of the local footpaths that connect to it. I decided to save the walk for Saturday and just gather up all of my wood and dinner etc. and just get cozy for the afternoon and evening.
My McAfee Antivirus Software had been telling me for several days, first, that "I was going to be without protection" and then that my computer was NOT PROTECTED and susceptible to any number of horrible things. I contemplated trying to re-up with McAfee and decided the very last thing in the world I wanted just then, was that aggravation.
I opted instead to watch "The Santa Clause", on YouTube, in 10 minute increments. A little bit of a hassle, but it was worth it for a little holiday cheer. What I really wanted to watch though, was "White Christmas", with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye...
If I was a smarter cookie, I might have just said forget it and dug out my book when the YouTube thing diverted me to a different website.
Apparently. Not. Smarter. Though.
There was the movie opening playing ... how bad could it be? It seemed like a website on the up-and-up, I mean, they are showing a Bing Crosby movie for crying out loud. How much more wholesome can you get?
So I tried to watch... but it kept getting hung up at the same point. I think I watched the first 7 minutes six or seven times, dealing with various pop-up ads (thanks to no McAfee) until, the last straw was an ad asking "if I wanted to know what Russian girls were available in the area".
Um. As a matter of fact, NO, I do not...
Or Russian men either for that matter.
Nothing against Russian men or women.
My resolve to watch White Christmas died a pain free death, because there was my computer in it's 'unprotected' state and the last thing I wanted was some stinkin' virus taking over. That was the end of my movie night. That's OK. I did have the book after all.
So I got myself all settled in bed and cozy under the comforter with my book... and the next thing I knew I was waking up... it was something like 11 and 1/2 minutes later...
Have I mentioned that reading sometimes puts me to sleep?
So much for reading then... I turned off the light. And was just about to doze off again, when I heard something. I tried to ignore it and pretend I wasn't halfway back to a state of wakefulness. Then I heard it again...
You know how, when you are a kid and someone is saying something you don't want to listen to, you stick your fingers in your ears and say "la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la"... to drown them out?
(OK. All right. I distinctly heard someone say - "Hah! Whatd'ya mean by, 'When you are a kid' You still do that!" It was either Kathy, Bernie, Lee or Karen. I know it was one of you.)
That's what I was trying to do... minus the actual sticking of fingers in my ears... and minus the 'la-la' part too...
Surprisingly, no... it really wasn't all that effective.
I turned on the light and sat up, listening intently.
Nothing but silence. And the sound of my own heart beating in my ears.
I was having a short little conversation with myself when I heard it again. A tiny little sound... like little feet scratching on a hard surface or someone gently crinkling a plastic bag. I got up out of my warm bed, grabbed my torch from the bedside table (QUIZ... do you remember what a torch is?) and looked in and under everything. That loft was clean and neat as a pin. Except for my clothes, hung, draped and otherwise strewn about. Absolutely nothing anywhere that could possibly be making that little sound. I satisfied myself beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was nothing living in that loft with me.
It had to be something outside, a branch or something, being blown by the wind and scratching against the side of the barn maybe, or the roof.
(I will confess that this was what my first night there had been like as well... I had slept in fits and starts).
A little more talking out loud to 'moi'. A decision to turn off the alarm and sleep in in the morning since I was now awake so late! And then off with the light again and... eventually... sweet slumber.
It was 8 am before I fully woke up. I crawled out of bed and went down to wee and make a pot of coffee which I then brought back upstairs with me, along with my computer deciding to tackle the task of getting the McAfee Virus Software renewed while I was still fresh.
Right.
You will not believe how long that took.
4 hours.
I bet in that time my Internet connection failed 20 times, easily, probably more. I'd get partway through the McAfee form and would need to 'continue' to the next page and I'd lose the connection.
It was frustrating.
To say the least.
I don't know why I persevered in it, really. I just get stubborn about some things and have a hard time 'giving up' because I think "What if this is the time it will work?!" I have an even harder time giving up on people and relationships.
I am never sure if the message I am getting from upstairs is saying...
"Don't give up Susie!" OR "Susie, would you give up already!?"
If any of you know how to tell the difference, would you please let me know?
Anyhoo...
McAfee installed. I made myself some lunch and then it was time to get outside for a walk!
My plan was to walk around the gardens first and then do the 2.5 mile walk around/through the Bore Place property.
My camera battery died before I was even halfway through the gardens. During my trying train travels I had been thinking I had managed to pack everything but the kitchen sink. Well, guess what else I didn't pack?
My camera battery charger.
Dang.
Next time I'm there, I'll get the rest.
So. I've downloaded all the pics I have from my camera now I need to upload them to the blog...
That will take some time.
'C'est la vie'.
love-
susie
PS... QUIZ ANSWER: a torch is a flashlight!
Willow Structure Restoration
December 15 & 16, 2011
John came to Bore Place to collect me Thursday morning and we headed to Dorton House School near Sevenoaks. Dorton House School is a school for the blind and visually impaired. Used to be a boarding and day school, but, I'm not sure if there are any boarding students there these days.
To get to the school we passed through a very upper class neighborhood comprised of 'Russians and football players'...
I'm told.
Don't ask me any more than that because I. don't. know.
The houses were big, but, what impressed me most were the large trees running along both sides of the street. Here's where it would be good to have that tree ID thing nailed, so I could say what they were... or a better memory, because I did ask John and he told me, but alas, 'je ne sais pas'.
If I had to guess, I would say they might very well have been oaks...something about the bark and the straightness of the trees makes me think that.
Now I'll be really embarrassed when I have to come back and tell you it was something different.
Nigel met us there, having traded his motorbike for a properly enclosed form of transportation, a cute little blue car. He's been driving that motorbike around for 4 years spring-summer-fall-winter. He's had the car for some time but has been studying for the license exam... recently took it and passed on his first try.
Well done!
Here in England, you do not need a license to operate a motorcycle.
You heard me write...
(I did that on purpose, I know it is spelled r-i-g-h-t.)
I know... not sure what that line of thinking is... but, that's the way it is.
You do however, need a license to operate a chainsaw... If I was hearing a recent conversation correctly.
(If any English folks reading can clarify/explain these things...please do make a comment and do that... then we'll all know.)
So, John had planted this willow structure 12 years ago and they have neither done any maintenance themselves nor had John back to do maintenance.
12 years of growing and blowing about in the wind... this is what it looked like when we got there.
It had started out as a circle of willow with a twisted willow column at the center. Each willow rod on the outside was connected to the central column, so, it was not the same dome shape we've seen before. I'm not sure really what to call it?
The reason John used this central column design was because the diameter was quite large (I am guessing 15' or more maybe?) and at the time of planting, it would have been impossible to be able to join the opposite willow rods (and be able to stand up inside).
As you may or may not be able to see from the picture. What we had was a circle of willow that was somewhere around 24' high and some of them were 5 inches in diameter or so.
In looking at it, John determined that some pretty significant cutting back was in order. Particularly in the front.
Most of the willow at the front was growing in an outward direction and was so big it would have been impossible to pull it back in towards the center.
So the strategy would be to first remove most of the willow at the front, cutting it at about 2' from the ground and then anything dead or incapable of being reconnected with the center. Then reconnect the side willow that is remaining with the central column and weave all the smaller new growth back into the top or sides Recreating a few arched 'doors' into the structure.
With that established we set to work... John with the chainsaw and Nigel and I clearing away the fallen trees, removing the branches and loading it all into the truck.
A note about chainsaw safety which John went over with me since it was my first time being in close proximity to him using a chainsaw... the two most important rules I noted are:
1) DO NOT tap John on the shoulder to get his attention when he has a running chainsaw in his hands and
2) DO NOT be in the way of a falling tree.
John came to Bore Place to collect me Thursday morning and we headed to Dorton House School near Sevenoaks. Dorton House School is a school for the blind and visually impaired. Used to be a boarding and day school, but, I'm not sure if there are any boarding students there these days.
To get to the school we passed through a very upper class neighborhood comprised of 'Russians and football players'...
I'm told.
Don't ask me any more than that because I. don't. know.
The houses were big, but, what impressed me most were the large trees running along both sides of the street. Here's where it would be good to have that tree ID thing nailed, so I could say what they were... or a better memory, because I did ask John and he told me, but alas, 'je ne sais pas'.
If I had to guess, I would say they might very well have been oaks...something about the bark and the straightness of the trees makes me think that.
Now I'll be really embarrassed when I have to come back and tell you it was something different.
Nigel met us there, having traded his motorbike for a properly enclosed form of transportation, a cute little blue car. He's been driving that motorbike around for 4 years spring-summer-fall-winter. He's had the car for some time but has been studying for the license exam... recently took it and passed on his first try.
Well done!
Here in England, you do not need a license to operate a motorcycle.
You heard me write...
(I did that on purpose, I know it is spelled r-i-g-h-t.)
I know... not sure what that line of thinking is... but, that's the way it is.
You do however, need a license to operate a chainsaw... If I was hearing a recent conversation correctly.
(If any English folks reading can clarify/explain these things...please do make a comment and do that... then we'll all know.)
So, John had planted this willow structure 12 years ago and they have neither done any maintenance themselves nor had John back to do maintenance.
12 years of growing and blowing about in the wind... this is what it looked like when we got there.
from the back
It had started out as a circle of willow with a twisted willow column at the center. Each willow rod on the outside was connected to the central column, so, it was not the same dome shape we've seen before. I'm not sure really what to call it?
The reason John used this central column design was because the diameter was quite large (I am guessing 15' or more maybe?) and at the time of planting, it would have been impossible to be able to join the opposite willow rods (and be able to stand up inside).
As you may or may not be able to see from the picture. What we had was a circle of willow that was somewhere around 24' high and some of them were 5 inches in diameter or so.
In looking at it, John determined that some pretty significant cutting back was in order. Particularly in the front.
from the front
Most of the willow at the front was growing in an outward direction and was so big it would have been impossible to pull it back in towards the center.
So the strategy would be to first remove most of the willow at the front, cutting it at about 2' from the ground and then anything dead or incapable of being reconnected with the center. Then reconnect the side willow that is remaining with the central column and weave all the smaller new growth back into the top or sides Recreating a few arched 'doors' into the structure.
With that established we set to work... John with the chainsaw and Nigel and I clearing away the fallen trees, removing the branches and loading it all into the truck.
A note about chainsaw safety which John went over with me since it was my first time being in close proximity to him using a chainsaw... the two most important rules I noted are:
1) DO NOT tap John on the shoulder to get his attention when he has a running chainsaw in his hands and
2) DO NOT be in the way of a falling tree.
the front willow cut
removing some wood from the central column at about 10' height
trimming away the dead or non-useful wood around the rest of the diameter
the truck filled up fast! Nigel is up there jumping up and down on it all, packing it down so we could fit more on!
Bert the dog inspecting the work... John, thinking, envisioning or singing... I'm not sure which.
entrance number one re-established on left side... can you see the woven willow archway?
It was a great day. Educational for me, and John managed to keep Nigel and I well entertained into the bargain. For that matter, Nigel is quite a card himself. In their presence I feel completely comfortable being my own goofy self.
The weather held for the work. Cold and sunny in the morning. JW made a trip back to Bore Place to unload the truck leaving Nigel and I to carry on for awhile on our own. That seemed like a significant vote of confidence! When he got back, the nice folks at the school let us in for our lunch break. Its always nice to be able to warm up a little and for me, nice to have a loo!
... ...
Next morning it was ccccold and I stayed in my cozy loft bed under the warm comforter as long as I could before I needed to get up and dressed. If you've read "Proper Job Nigel, Proper Job" then you already know that it snowed Friday morning, which had me jumping for joy! I was on my second cup of coffee before I opened the shades and saw the snow.
Yes, I did have the presence of mind to put the coffee cup down before I started jumping...
Hoooorrraaayyy!!! Hooooorraayy!!! Hooorrraaayyyyy! I had visions of inches accumulating!
John again collected me from the Small Barn and it was a winter wonderland drive to the school. The big fluffy flakes falling down and sticking, until the still green grass on the hillsides was almost completely hidden under a blanket of white.
It was a feast for my eyes to behold... I was in heaven!
Back at the job. More pruning, more clearing away debris and raking up the small stuff (with a little snow mixed in for good measure!), filling the truck full again making 3 truckloads total, and of course, more tea.
Here's the final structure as we left it.
that's Nigel on the left and John on the right...
I wish I had gotten a closeup of the central column because it is so cool!!! I think you can see though, how John twisted the willow when he planted it 12 years ago and it grew into an awesome twisted willow column!
So, everything that was cut will ultimately sprout. Those sprouts will be woven back in to become either the 'walls' or 'ceiling', obviously depending on where they are. The front might possibly end up with some sort of window(s) in it... that will be determined once it has had opportunity to sprout and grow.
I think it looks amazing!! Don't you?
Yes... definitely, a proper job!
hugs-
susie
Monday, December 26, 2011
Put up Your Dukes...
It is Boxing Day here in England!
I actually have no real idea what boxing day is all about... lets see if I can find something about it that I can pass along...
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/boxingday.html
That website explains it for kids... and thats about where my level of understanding is right now too...
From what I gather, it seems that it has evolved from several different traditions, all of which had something in common...
a box!
Hence the name "boxing day".
Go figure.
Essentially, I think all those nice traditions have been forgotten for the most part and Boxing Day has emerged as pretty much a big shopping day when many stores have "sales" much like the day after Thanksgiving in the US.
I hear the word boxing though and it immediately brings to my mind the "sport" of boxing.
And from the news today, it looks like there are those here in England who have put on there boxing gloves...
figuratively speaking that is.
Train drivers and London tube drivers are holding a 24 hour strike causing major disruption to travelers here today. You can read this article from the Guardian about it:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/26/boxing-day-travel-disruption-uk?newsfeed=true
So glad I was not traveling today!!!
Looks like I don't want to be traveling on January 16th either. Or February 3rd or 13th. Shall we take bets on whether I will remember that... or not?
Yawn... I have done essentially nothing today and cannot seem to keep my eyes open. Guess i'll call it a day even though I am wondering...wondering...wondering what is going on with Alanna (and Jacob) and whether or not that new great neice has made her entrance into the world yet?!
Maybe she is on strike?
Guess I will find that out tomorrow...
love, susie
I actually have no real idea what boxing day is all about... lets see if I can find something about it that I can pass along...
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/boxingday.html
That website explains it for kids... and thats about where my level of understanding is right now too...
From what I gather, it seems that it has evolved from several different traditions, all of which had something in common...
a box!
Hence the name "boxing day".
Go figure.
Essentially, I think all those nice traditions have been forgotten for the most part and Boxing Day has emerged as pretty much a big shopping day when many stores have "sales" much like the day after Thanksgiving in the US.
I hear the word boxing though and it immediately brings to my mind the "sport" of boxing.
And from the news today, it looks like there are those here in England who have put on there boxing gloves...
figuratively speaking that is.
Train drivers and London tube drivers are holding a 24 hour strike causing major disruption to travelers here today. You can read this article from the Guardian about it:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/26/boxing-day-travel-disruption-uk?newsfeed=true
So glad I was not traveling today!!!
Looks like I don't want to be traveling on January 16th either. Or February 3rd or 13th. Shall we take bets on whether I will remember that... or not?
Yawn... I have done essentially nothing today and cannot seem to keep my eyes open. Guess i'll call it a day even though I am wondering...wondering...wondering what is going on with Alanna (and Jacob) and whether or not that new great neice has made her entrance into the world yet?!
Maybe she is on strike?
Guess I will find that out tomorrow...
love, susie
Saturday, December 24, 2011
In Everything...Beginnings and Endings... I Will Testify to Love
I am sitting on my bed, back against the wall looking out the window... have been here the last 20 minutes or so, just lost in thought...
my window sill has become my own personal Merry Christmas space... with the cards i've received... one from Melissa's folks with holly, one from 'Mom and Dad Wiggett 'with a pair of cardinals, an old fashioned, snowy Vermont scene (with glitter) from Bernie, Kathy and Mahaliah, a photo greeting from Jessie, Ben and Madie (you are all a sight for sore eyes), a home made one, with a thumbprint reindeer from the Wallers and another handmade "Merry Christmas" from "Chong" (M&S's oldest...)
I have a willow star wreath and a perfect willow reindeer made by JW.... and 2 "salt" ornaments, made by Chong in school. One is a star and one is a bell, with the word "family" on it. She gave me the card and ornaments as soon as I got home on Monday, which really touched my heart.
Oh, and the felt heart I made last fall, too.
That big ole tree outside has lost all it's leaves now. And in the last 20 minutes or so, the grey sky has turned to blue, and the sun is shining.
Isn't that just like life?
One minute it may be blue skys and sunshine and the very next it can be raining.
And I guess that's sort of what is on my heart right now... this last week I have experienced both incredible joy at the news of another great niece being born... Alyssa Marie... welcomed into the loving arms of her proud Papa, my nephew Sam and his wife Amanda.
and deep sorrow at the death of an old friend, who took his own life. Dealing with the death of a friend or loved one can be excruciatingly painful and difficult to get through. When someone dies by their own hand though, it is, for me anyway, so much more difficult to reconcile my emotions...
Being so far away, and feeling somewhat estranged from the family, I do not know the circumstances that made him decide life was completely hopeless... or not worth living.
I can honestly say, I wish I was home... to join with my family in welcoming Alyssa to the world and to hold her! She'll be 4 months old before I get that chance.
I also wish I could attend the service for S.B. and give his loved ones a hug 'round the neck... because I really don't have any words...
Since I got the news the other day, I've been thinking about "Broken Vessels", a small, country gospel group I used to sing with. Perhaps we should have come up with a different name, because we all sure have experienced alot of brokeness over the years.
S.B. was our sound man for part of the time the group was together. This song, "Testify to Love", by Avalon was one we used to sing. I have not been able to get it out of my head since I heard the news.
I have no idea who these lovely ladies are doing the drama/creative movement... or where they are... presumably they are at a church somewhere on the planet. Anyway, this is my favorite version of the song on youtube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbZIpASArAY&feature=related
To me, this song is simply about loving people, exactly the way they are whether you 'agree with it' or not - and it is my personal goal in life to do just that... though I fail, I shall continue to persevere...
In the time it has taken me to write this, the sun was shining in so strongly I needed to shut the curtains in order to see and now, the sky has gone grey again.
And I am not home, I am here... Sending love across the sea.
susie
my window sill has become my own personal Merry Christmas space... with the cards i've received... one from Melissa's folks with holly, one from 'Mom and Dad Wiggett 'with a pair of cardinals, an old fashioned, snowy Vermont scene (with glitter) from Bernie, Kathy and Mahaliah, a photo greeting from Jessie, Ben and Madie (you are all a sight for sore eyes), a home made one, with a thumbprint reindeer from the Wallers and another handmade "Merry Christmas" from "Chong" (M&S's oldest...)
I have a willow star wreath and a perfect willow reindeer made by JW.... and 2 "salt" ornaments, made by Chong in school. One is a star and one is a bell, with the word "family" on it. She gave me the card and ornaments as soon as I got home on Monday, which really touched my heart.
Oh, and the felt heart I made last fall, too.
That big ole tree outside has lost all it's leaves now. And in the last 20 minutes or so, the grey sky has turned to blue, and the sun is shining.
Isn't that just like life?
One minute it may be blue skys and sunshine and the very next it can be raining.
And I guess that's sort of what is on my heart right now... this last week I have experienced both incredible joy at the news of another great niece being born... Alyssa Marie... welcomed into the loving arms of her proud Papa, my nephew Sam and his wife Amanda.
and deep sorrow at the death of an old friend, who took his own life. Dealing with the death of a friend or loved one can be excruciatingly painful and difficult to get through. When someone dies by their own hand though, it is, for me anyway, so much more difficult to reconcile my emotions...
Being so far away, and feeling somewhat estranged from the family, I do not know the circumstances that made him decide life was completely hopeless... or not worth living.
I can honestly say, I wish I was home... to join with my family in welcoming Alyssa to the world and to hold her! She'll be 4 months old before I get that chance.
I also wish I could attend the service for S.B. and give his loved ones a hug 'round the neck... because I really don't have any words...
Since I got the news the other day, I've been thinking about "Broken Vessels", a small, country gospel group I used to sing with. Perhaps we should have come up with a different name, because we all sure have experienced alot of brokeness over the years.
S.B. was our sound man for part of the time the group was together. This song, "Testify to Love", by Avalon was one we used to sing. I have not been able to get it out of my head since I heard the news.
I have no idea who these lovely ladies are doing the drama/creative movement... or where they are... presumably they are at a church somewhere on the planet. Anyway, this is my favorite version of the song on youtube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbZIpASArAY&feature=related
To me, this song is simply about loving people, exactly the way they are whether you 'agree with it' or not - and it is my personal goal in life to do just that... though I fail, I shall continue to persevere...
In the time it has taken me to write this, the sun was shining in so strongly I needed to shut the curtains in order to see and now, the sky has gone grey again.
And I am not home, I am here... Sending love across the sea.
susie
“Death belongs to life as birth does. The walk is in the raising of the foot as in the laying of it down.” Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)
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