New Neighbor?

Maybe better put, a newly displaced neighbor. For I found the little tike in our backyard; poking up between a few grass blades. It's a one inch Painted Turtle, who now calls the wetlands behind Edgell Grove Cemetery home sweet home.

Do, Or Do Not

There is no try. Yoda

My riding partner for the Boston Brain Tumor Ride
He's carrying the water and tools. I'm carrying him.
May 15, 2011

Mixer Update

The probable cause has been found. It's a worn worm gear. Now I could have ordered just the gear and replaced it, but it would have involved knocking yet another pin out, and then putting it back in. Which I believe is going to be tougher than banging them out; we'll see. So for a few more dollars I picked out the assembly.

online auction houses to the rescue; for the gear and a can of mixer grease. Ah fresh, nice light yellow, soft grease will be the ticket. Truly the pictured grey stuff is no better than sludge.

Part and grease from two different vendors should be here early next week. Until then the kitchen counter will remain a mixer surgical site. So far, no one has reported a screw or pin in their dinner.

Important Link Enclosed

An impressive body of work for an adult, mind staggering for a teenage. A tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and to their families.

Old Dog! New Trick? YES!

Got another flat rear tire on my bike and this old dog fixed it!
Opportunity knocked yet again. :-)

Today's Mantra

Where there is a will; there will be a way. Always.

It's my over 21 year old kitchen aid mixer undergoing surgery on the kitchen counter. My hope is that I remember which screw goes where. I guess that is where Try, Try Again comes to mind.

Today's Mantra

Don't let the turkeys get you down.

Really, turkeys -- our wildlife neighbors. What a misnomer, for how could they, short of causing a traffic jam or worse an accident, get us down? Lovely birds with bright red and blue heads, beautiful feathers, and huge foot prints -- great for tracking.

I will never tire of these turkeys.

Easter

I, myself, am the bread of life.

And Your Station Would Be?

What's your station? Would you offer a complete stranger your veil, to wipe their sweating brow?

My Girls

Whether they are of my own flesh and blood

One of my Girl Scouts

Or in my CFF class

or a combination there of; I am so proud and very protective.

This is the holiest of weeks.
This is the week our faith is grounded upon.
And my girls are there.

Train in the Rain

It's raining; it's pouring.

The old lady is snoring.
Went to bed with a bump on her head.
And still had to ride her bike in the morning.

Nothing like a 25 mile fund raiser
To ensure the training takes place
Rain or Shine.

A walk in Purgatory Chasm

Normally, I don't go for graffitti: but in this case, it is right on.

Purgatory Chasm is awesome.

A place to climb up, climb down, climb over, explore...

and ride your mother's heart up into her throat with death defying jumping.

A place where a kid can be a kid, and a mom can be a kid too.

Patriot's Day

Today, Patriot's Day, is the day of the shot heard 'round the world; the start of the Revolutionary War on a bridge not too far from here, a day for all patriots. And it's the day for the starter's gun, and thousands of men and women running from Hopkinton to Boston, the Boston Marathon.

Along the traffic quieted streets there are others that march for this country.

There are others who inspire the rest of of us; never give up.

Run Boston, Run!

Off Kilter -- Easter Prelude

THIS IS A VERY TOUCHING STORY, VERY HARD TO READ, ABOUT TWO BROTHERS WHO WERE SEPARATED AT BIRTH.

IT'S A STORY OF LIFE & DEATH, AND THE CRUEL TWIST OF FATE.

IT’S CERTAIN TO STIR YOUR HEART AND TOUCH YOUR SOUL. THIS CAME IN AN EMAIL, AND I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO SHARE.

HAPPIER EASTER TO YOU!

Thank you Prajna for sharing.

Summer Time Nemesis

The ultimate in garden eradication lives under our shed.

Stymied?

Mary Haig's silent auction donation.

Ever have so much on your plate you're afraid to move? Afraid you'll drop a deliverable? So stressed you can't take an action?

That was me Monday. Program to finish. Floor plan to lay out. Speaker schedule to outline and distribute. Menu to plan. Event looming.

All it took was sitting in a quiet place (the chapel while my daughter had religious ed.) with a few pieces of scrap paper and a pen. One prayer, one deep breath, later -- and I was drawing tables for the layout. Then the author reading schedule was outlined, and by the time classes were over I had written out a few items for the menu.

In my own small world, I'm hearing Neil Armstrong saying, "One small step..." and the path is made clearer.

The Stove

T minus 10 days to Easter and the stove dies... Given the warranty service history of the beast, I anticipated a huge repair involving the circuit board or other electronics. A call to where we bought the beast resulted in the suggestion to call All-Lines Appliance. We did.

All-Lines Appliance gave an estimated time of arrival between 1 PM and 4 PM. The call came at 1; we'll be there in 15 minutes. (ie no afternoon of house arrest) The owner, Stephen, is the technician. He's calm, cordial, competent. He uncovered the beast and discovered a loose connection.

We discussed fix options. Balancing cost to effectiveness. A solution settled upon, he was done in 45 minutes.

All-Lines Appliance: We'll definitely call them back for all of our appliance problems.

All-Lines Appliance
31 Saint James Rd
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
508-842-1597

Easter dinner is back on schedule.

Mom, why do you dress up for work?

... asked the little one. Good question. For she sees me day to day, sans work, dressed as I did in my twenties: jeans, tshirts and sweatshirts.

Why dress up? I'm only data entry girl, but I am as careful with the data as I am with my attire.

Yesterday

Lately, I seem to spend a lot of blog space writing about what happened yesterday. Well today, is no exception, as yesterday was a day full of surprises, starting with an ill child and ending with a reenactment commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the start of the Civil War.

Before rising in the morning I asked for a quieter less hectic day; and I got it... (I really must be careful what I ask for.) The ailment didn't last past second period, so off to school my taxi ran. Walking in the now tardy one, with the explanation, "She's feeling better now, and asked to go to school." Really, she wanted to be there.

Stain glass was my day and my evening was a Civil War Reenactment 2 miles from the house. The little one and I represented our Scout troop. We learned about battle tactics, weaponry, the role of women in the Civil War, about their food, their encampments, and camp entertainment. In a solemn ceremony, the Scouts, both Boy and Girl, read off the names of the 50 Civil War veterans that were from Framingham.

One little scout, who paid attention and was then able to answer a question directed to her by a soldier, might be their newest recruit. Education at it's finest.

Ohhh, and yesterday my Wolf stove died. Not particularly happy about that one... for I'm cooking Easter.

Two Shoes Along a Yellow Brick Road

Shhh.... this project is my daughter's graduation present; or at least part of it. I took two of her shoes as models for the terrain, and then placed her running on a yellow ribbon road. In the bottom right hand corner will be glass representing a pair of her favorite sunglasses. The sun is melting into the hills.

Soup Night

We had our parish Lenten Soup Night last night. Seventy people signed up -- more than seventy people showed up.

Over and over again people thanked me for Soup Night and over and over again I smiled, and replied -- It takes a team.

We have a great Parish Activities Committee. At 9:30 AM we gathered together for set up. By 11 AM the hall was ready. All the tables set. The serving stations established. A dessert table and beverage table laid out. The soups, all homemade: Corn Chowder, Hamburger Soup and Seafood Chowder arrived around 3 PM. Mass was at 4PM; Soup Night commenced right after wards.

I love this committee so happily dedicated to serving the parish. I love how people lingered over their meager meal. I love how there were very few leftovers, and an easy clean up. And I love how the goodwill offering will go to feed those less fortunate.

Easter Egg Hunt next Saturday.

Road Construction

How do we know it's springtime? Not by the Robins, but by the road construction. It starts right after sugaring season and goes right up until the first snow. The road in front of our elementary school has been dug up in some form or fashion for the last five years... maybe more. Gridlock traffic turning a ten minute ride into 40 minutes of bumper to bumper... if you are lucky.

Yesterday, and the day before, as we were crossed by a very nice policeman, I thought this construction is really wonderful. For how often do we get to talk with a policeman? Never. This construction is giving us the opportunity to met the cops on the beat. How lucky are we!

Life Rushes By...

busy busy busy.... busy


Life is but a blur.
For trying to do all, and be all.
Just exactly what am I missing?

An Odd Sort of Laying on of Hands

The other day at work, my co-worker was sorting through her own flavor of data; trying to create a report. Frustrated with having limited luck, she asked if I could take a look.

Even though I don't use her application, I offered to take a feel at her keyboard. Perplexed she vacated her seat, and as I slid into computer ready position, I told her -- to get a hold of the situation, I need to touch the keys. Sitting there, I suspected there might be a way to sort her data by field type and sure enough there is.

Two or three quick key strokes and her report was laid out before her.

Isn't it weird?

Fun Future Fact: My daughter will be attending WPI in the Fall. All donations gratefully accepted.

Neither a Dragon, Nor a Fly

It's sad how labels can taint our beliefs and impressions.

How does their garden grow?

I have such high hopes and aspirations for my children. Exposing them to faith filled experiences, community service projects, the arts, outside activities, music, foreign languages. All the while, waiting for their own passions to ignite. It's like watching and waiting for a flower bloom. And bloom they will, but in their own time, not anyone else's.

I have a Night Blooming Cereus plant. I've had it for over 20 years. The last time it bloomed was 3 years ago: the night before we went to World Youth Day in July of 2008. One fragrant bloom, for one night -- and the time before that was at least ten years previous. Despite having to get on an early plane I sat up, outside and watched the bloom open for hours. Seemingly photographing every petal expansion.

Come to the Water

We took the taps out yesterday. Most were dry, but one or two were still dripping. Not much; not enough to boil. Just enough to wet the whistle of a few ants.

Four Things

Love is:

• Sacrifice
  
• Service
• Mediation
• Advocacy
  

Retreat!!!

When do you retreat to move forward?

This question crossed my mind today. And the answer is: When the retreat is called in the name of God. We are lucky enough to be working with my bro's parish today, on a retreat with keynote speaker Chris Padgett.

So I'm yelling: RETREAT!!!! RETREAT!!! with a smile on my face. For the rewards are endless.