Just Biding My Time

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter."  Rachel Carson

Last night the temperatures dropped once again reminding us winter is not ready for her final curtain call.  I have truly tried to remain patient.   I know, if I join the majority begging for an early spring,  I will so regret it come August.  While it is winter that refuses to let go of her grip in the north and northeast, it is summer that often brings the south to its knees. 

Trying to heed my own advice to wait until I am sure it is safe to start planting I look for other ways to sate my gardening appetite.  This morning , with a jacket on and coffee cup in hand I headed outside for a quick wellness tour.   Everything looked okay.  I needed more.

I opened up the newspaper and found my answer, The Gardening Show.  Within the hour Roger and I were dressed and out of the door.   I remembered to grab my tote bag  and my camera.  I leave you with some spring daydreams.

  

my very favorite

you know I so loved this

 

 

pretty

There was so much more, but the crowd and the professional photographers kept getting in my way.   What were they thinking?

Oh, and...

Smokey begged to have his picture taken with me...

What fun!

I didn't come home empty handed...

                                                       but that's another post!

The Storm Has Passed

When you see the storm a comin'

See the lightening part the skies

It's too late to run

There's terror in your eyes

What you do then is remember

This old thing you hear me say

It's the storm, not you

That's bound to blow away

(lyrics " Hold On", The Secret Garden)

Stepping outside this morning I knew immediately there was a good chance it would be a stormy day.  The air was heavy and a light mist was falling.  The final clue was my very own barometer...my hair.  After spending my usually 30 minutes blowing it straight, it took minutes to turn it into a curly mess.  

The storm has passed, and we are, gratefully, no worse with its passing. 

Cooler temperatures and a little sun for a couple of days then we start it all over again.  It is just that time of year in the south.

Viewing Genius

Several years ago I took a twelve week workshop designed to help discover or rediscover your creativity.  It is a class that can be used by writers, painters, or anyone who wants to live a more creative life.  Each week there is a reading and various tasks to complete, or attack, as the case may be.  You're instructed to write three pages each day about anything on your mind.  The only other consistent assignment is to take yourself on an "artist date".   

Through the years I have continued to write in journals.   I may not write consistently, but I write.  I have book journals, travel journals, cooking journals, knitting journals and journals just for occasional musings.

I have also kept up with taking myself out.  My date maybe a trip to the bookstore, the nursery, the knit shop or simply out for a quiet lunch.  Usually it is never anything extraordinary, but it is almost always peaceful and healing.

Today I took myself to view genius, the work of Theodore "Dr. Seuss" Giselle.  I spent two hours reading about his career and viewing his delightful art.   I will leave you with a few things that caught my fancy.   Enjoy!

 

You recognize this fellow

Okay, I so want to own this one!

Patience Learned

"When one flower blooms spring awakens everywhere" 

John O'Donohue

With the snow gone and temperatures reaching into the 70s my mind wanders to the beauty of spring possibilities.  A couple of decades ago when I was absolutely certain I knew everything there was to know, about whatever I thought important, it only took a couple of weeks of spring like temperatures to send me off to the nursery to get a head start on planting.  Now when the weather starts my head spinning with thoughts of spring blossoms  I think of sweet Mrs. Cherry.

Mrs. Cherry entered my life shortly after we moved to Nashville.  She was in her mid seventies and I in my early thirties.  She was ready to retire from teaching, and little did I know I was just about to embark on the adventure of teaching.  I had been substituting a couple of years when I was ask if I would be willing to teach full time.  There was a child, in Mrs. Cherry's class, needing  special attention.  The family agreed to pay my full salary if I would stay in the classroom and work one-on-one with him.  I agreed.  And so began my friendship with this delightful woman.  

By the beginning of April, along with our friendship, the dogwoods, bradford pears, and cherry trees lining Belle Meade Boulevard were beginning to bloom.  I had a bad case of spring fever.  One morning, standing around on the playground, Mrs. Cherry and I started talking about flowers and gardening. I told her I thought I would stop at the nursery and pick up a few flats of impatiens to plant over the weekend.  Her immediate response was, "Oh no, we haven't had dogwood winter".  She went on to explain we would have a cold snap while the dogwoods were in bloom, followed by forsythia and blackberry winter.  She strongly suggested I wait until Mother's Day to plant.  Well, I didn't listen, and yes, the very last freeze was the week before Mother's Day.  That year I learned patience in the classroom and in the garden.

I no longer live in Nashville and planting time here arrives earlier than Mother's Day.  With the warm weather seeming to promise an early spring, instead of rushing out to the nursery, I will instead think of  Mrs. Cherry, remember lessons taught, and find other ways to nurse my bad case of spring fever.

inspiration

a new journal and gardening magazine

promises

Oh, some things can't wait

flip flop pink toes

I've Been Outed

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."  Dr. Suess

It seems word might be out, I write a blog.  And, after much thought, I am okay with it.  I know it might seem odd that I've chosen such a public forum to express myself, and yet I have kept it a secret.  I suppose it is more threatening to have those I know and see frequently reading and critiquing my thoughts.  I don't want to begin censoring myself  because I am sensitive to what someone might think.  And yet, I have chosen this venue to express myself.

While in Seaside, this past Christmas, we had our usual New Year's feast with a family we have known since...forever.   As usual there was a lot of food, a lot of wine, and a lot of good conversation.  Not being an election year, the conversation turned toward the internet and social networking.  Our friend ask , "Okay who has a facebook account?"  Most of us raised our hands.   We discussed the the pros and cons of facebook.  All was going well.  Then he ask, "Who has a blog?"  I just sat there thinking...I need more wine.  One person raised her hand.   Roger and Heather both turned and looked at me.  I slowly raised my hand (man, I really could have used another glass of wine).  While I do believe it was a mild shock to everyone that I was the one who had the blog, everyone seemed to be supportive, and ask the usual questions, why and about what.

Why?  I do it for me.  It is my chance to reach within, step out of my comfort zone and say what is on my mind and in my heart.  A chance to share all the stuff that rattles around in my head.

About what?  I'm still kind of working on that.    I write about experiences, ideas, and passions.  I occasionally tell a story or two.  I hope I encourage, bring a moment of quiet thought, and maybe bring a laugh or two.

Thanks to everyone who follows me, mentors me and leaves such encouraging comments and emails.  (I am doing better about going back and responding)  And thanks to those who read and choose to remain anonymous.

My Cup Runneth Over

In case you missed it today is Valentine's Day.  I'm not for sure how I really feel about this holiday.  

My sweetheart and I don't do a lot.  We trade valentines; usually some Godiva is included (this year flowers and champagne appeared).  Early morning I slipped downstairs to set out his card and a chocolate heart, but he was faster than I.   Where I normally lay out surprises was a little red gift bag and a valentine.  We opened our treats, said our Happy Valentine's and headed our separate ways.  

In a few hours February 14, 2011 will slip away.  Dinner will be over. Chocolates will be put away in the pantry for a special treat.    Flowers will be enjoyed a few more days.  

Tomorrow morning Roger will head his way, and I will rush out to school.  There will be "I love yous".  I will say "have a great day".  He will say "be careful out there". 

It will not be Valentine's Day, but Roger  will be with me, because on a random day many years ago he gave me this small bracelet..

inscribed,  "protect this woman".

No matter where Roger happens to travel  all I need to do is  touch this small ring of silver holding a few stones and a simple sentiment to know I am blessed with love.

I hope your Valentine's Day was all you wanted it to be.

Hide and Seek

Three days out of school...

  One of my little friends came over

to play.

 

I hope you are enjoying warmer temperatures.
Have a terrific weekend!

Preparations

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again."  Louis Carroll

Yesterday the state was preparing for what was being called the snow event of the season.  The up to the minute models were showing we could double our present snow totals.  Warnings and watches were announced by noon.  Schools made their decision to close by five o'clock news time.  Store shelves were emptied. 

I spent the morning getting my children ready for Valentine's Day, knowing there was a  possibility I would not see them again until February 14th.  We cut out hearts for our cards.  Wrote "Happy Valentine's Day!  Love...".  We painted and glittered our treat bags.   We practiced writing our names;  we even had time to don our coats and play outside.  We took our time and had a very good day.   I sent the children home with Friday papers (we had a snow day last Friday and this Friday's attendance has yet to be determined) and hopes  of snowman building and sledding fun.

 On my way home, like my little friend above, I needed a few provisions to get through the anticipated snow storm.   

 

I have my priorities straight.  I first visited my favorite yarn store, because I needed this...

 

 To finish this.

sh-h-h it's a surprise

I also found my favorite knitting magazine to add to another little treasure I found last week. 

so many projects to ponder

So  while sitting in my sun room looking out at this

I may choose
to finish reading A Woman in White,
knit,
browse a magazine
or just sit and daydream,
because

I am assured
I will, soon enough, be sitting here
with beverage in hand,

once again, enjoying this view.

Enjoy today, tomorrow will come.

Dreams

"If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment."  Henry David Thoreau

When I sit down to write I never know what direction I am headed.  I usually have something in my head, but once I start organizing sometimes  something else pops in to say hi.  I suppose I am a lot like the little mouse in the children's book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

This morning I was going to write about this "can of worms" I opened late yesterday afternoon...

my play room

but as I sat alone by the fire I began thinking of  dreams.   I am not talking about the dreams you have when you are asleep, but the hopes and dreams we all have for ourselves, our families and our friends.  A dream of something that will bring  joy or security.  Something that we think will make us happy and change our life for ever.

This year I have had several friends watch their dreams  wait listed or detoured.  And my heart hurts.  It is hard watching someone you care about hurting and lost.   At first I listen, hold a hand or give a hug, and once alone, I cry.

 I truly believe we are a hopeful people.  We dream big, and in time, bounce back opening ourselves to new ideas and hopes.   Being an optimist and a person of faith, I do believe when our dreams are dashed, we are being led to our real destiny if we only dare to look at a dream a different way.

Much like a garden, dreams may wilt and die back allowing  winter to take her icy hold, but given protection and properly tended they will bloom again, maybe altered, giving us the most beautiful spring .  We may not forget the flowers from yesteryear, but we find promise in what is yet to come.

 Dream my friends...dream big, but remember as you sit pondering and planning, be open to whatever may pop in to say hi.

Opposites

"We are sun and moon, dear friend; we are sea and land. It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is: each the other's opposite and complement."
Hermann Hesse (Narcisse and Goldmund)

I have been fortunate to be  blessed with many friends through the years.  They have entered my life at different times and in different ways.  Some have left.  A few remain.  I have three cherished friendships that span decades.   I have never really figured out the formula for two people actually becoming and remaining close friends, but I do know sometimes it just happens.

One of my dearest friends recently found my blog.  After reading it she wrote on my facebook page...

"So I never knew you had a blog and now as I read it, I began to wonder how we became such good friends??? LOL!!! As I read your blog, I thought how totally different we are but I guess it is true! Opposites attract, ...."

I responded by writing, "I thought that was why we were such good friends."  We have been good friends for almost 26 years; I have never given a thought of how different we might be.  We may be opposites and I am okay with it.

She is contemporary ... I'm a traditional eclectic
She plans ... I "fly by the seat of my pants"
She goes to see the movie ... I read the book
She sees numbers...I see colors

Together we solve the problems of the world and plan great parties.

I don't understand the chemistry; I know it works.   We all bring something different to the table in friendship, marriage, work...life.  And it works.  It just does.

We may be different in some ways, but we are friends.  And, I am blessed.