Summer To-Do List

Learn about Mendelian genetics.

Isolate DNA at the kitchen table.

Fence in the garden.
Now protected from the backyard fauna -- plant the peas.
Better late than never.

It's Sad, So Sad...

It's a sad sad situation.

Our local used book store / coffee bar is closing down. According to Paul, the owner, "People aren't buying books like they used to." What's this closing going to mean to the neighborhood? After all there are two other coffee sources within walking distance. It's obvious we lose a bookstore, but what else?

Also leaving is our knitting club meeting spot, the arena for local politicians to gather and chat with their constituents, a place for the Nobscot Niblets Writer's Group, the gallery for local artists and authors to debut their wares, the Mystery readers meeting spot on Wednesday night, a place to get the best scones around, or a chair massage two Sundays a month, not to mention the best coffee brewed or beans.

Leaving is the afternoon gathering spot for moms waiting to acquire their children from the neighboring school. Assembling there on a weekend won't be happening for intrepid middle aged hikers heading off to Tippling Rock for a relaxed afternoon jaunt.

Dissipating will be the Curmudgeon's Coffee Club who accepted a little girl as an apprentice and then promoted her to a journeyman. For 180 days each school year, she won't be getting up extra early to make sure she has time to stop in to sit with the crew before school. No more curtsying with a flourish for His Lordship. Gone is the halfway safe haven stop. No more afterschool gratuitous juice boxes or summertime popsicles.

Lost will be the artsy jewelry gallery. Where will we find the handmade perfect necklaces and earrings?

Leaving will be Paul, the owner, and friend, for the past 11 years. Who knows how I like my coffee. And adds the no cal sweetener; even though it disgusts him.

This little community of Nobscot is losing more than a used bookstore. We are losing life.

Leaving Your Mark

Whether we mean to or not, we all leave our mark upon the world, our community, our family. Does yours stand the test of time? Never to be removed? Is it brass hard, or quietly subtle?

Either way...

Life's Lessons

With my fresh teen getting her first summer job, watering a garden for a vacationing family, this has been a the summer of the Triple L: Learning Life Lessons.

Lesson 1. Know your own self worth.
Lesson 2. Do a job as if you were taking care of your own prized possession.
Lesson 3. Get the financial details worked out up front.
Lesson 4. Speak up for yourself.

Do You Cast An Interesting Shadow?

No one goes through life an island. Even the most solitary of souls has a shadow. Make it an interesting one.

Start Each Day Facing The Son

Did you think I made a typo? Not so.

To Bee Or Not To Bee

While on a walk we came across this large "bee." But it's not a bee or a wasp or even a hornet. It is a Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth. A mimic.

Life's Blessings

When I saw these burdock they reminded me of blessings. Sometimes life's goodness is camouflaged. And we don't see the color they contain. Look close into all people and situations.

Your wheel

Are you just spinning your wheel through life? Or are you making energy?

Green Lawn Syndrome

The grass is always greener, until someone leaves the gate open. What do I mean? You don't know what goes on behind closed doors.

Summer Heats UP

When life is really complicated

Life, like knitting a cable sock, is complicated. The secret is: No matter how many needles are involved in the project, remember, you only use two of them at any one time. Take it stitch by stitch; moment to moment. Breathe and watch as the beautiful twists and turns develop.

Q & A?

And how can you mend a broken heart?
How can you stop the rain from falling down?
How can you stop the sun from shining?
What makes the world go round?

Intentions

Gurumayi Chidvilasananda explains in her talk Intentions and Blessings that two completely opposite actions can both be good, well meaning and sincere. In a way it reminds me of the old saying, "There are two sides to every story;"where both sides are honorable.

In the last installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows we see both sides of Severus Snape's actions and intentions. We see the bravery, often masked to those around him, with which he lived his life.

It has caused me to pause. To think about my actions and the actions I judge of those around me.

Life is...

plain and simply, it's family.

Simply

It's a choice we can all make.

Thank you Snape!

Don't Tell Me

Don't tell you can't, if you're not willing to try.

So what would you do if you only had one day to shine?

One day and then you fade... How would you spend your time? Facing the sun? Shining bright for all to see? We could all take a lesson from the Morning Glory.

Everything I Need To Know

... I Learned in Kindergarten.

I used to believe that. After all kindergarten is where we solidify those started at home lessons to share, to be kind, to try our best, to respect others, and to hold hands. But the topology of this summer has reacquainted me with a double whammy lesson that I picked up in graduate school. Lessons that equal those of the formative year. And they are:

1. Be happy and celebrate when those around you are successful. For if you are only truly happy when good things come solely your way, you will be unhappy a lot of the time. But if you celebrate the accomplishments and successes of others, then you will be delightfully squeezing in celebrations left and right.

2. Don't put off celebrating until the Big Bang. There are many of life's little discoveries each and everyday; simple yet beautiful results that unfold as they rush towards us. Don't miss them anticipating the next best big result. For big may never come.


Maybe it's not all about kindergarten or high school or graduate school; maybe it's all about being a life long learner. After all, I'm 50 and look what I learned today.

Life has two sides

It's what you absorb and it's what you reflect. Life is... Interesting that way.

Sometimes Life Gets Complicated

But if you look closely you will find the way.

A Glorious Morning

Sometimes life is black and white. Choose to see the bright side; even in the dark.

Sigh!

And you thought getting up and out was difficult.

Timing and the Silver Lining

Last week had us running in a million different directions. Some not as pleasant as others. Still we were fortunate to find ourselves in front of a beautiful tv, (really did I type beautiful), for the last launch of the space shuttle. Funny thing, as rushed as we were that day, that task completed but many still before us, we sat and waited for this piece of history to unfold.

Life is all about finding the silver linings. They're in there.

AIM HIGH

Make a BIG splash.

Here's my hat...

What's my hurry? For this morning walk, it was thunder.

For life, in general, I don't know. Life is too short to rush.

Stop

and smell the flowers.

Our Summer

Our summer is reading like a list of Who's Who in the medical field. This is a heavy hitter week with four teeth extractions, a surgery follow up, and a PT evaluation. Next week it's asthma check ups, dentist, a different surgery follow up, and the like.

Good thing it's summer or we'd be hard pressed to fit all this in around school.
Good thing sock knitting is easily portable.
Good thing ice cream, and yogurt are family staples.
Good thing the mornings are cool for walks.
Good thing the girls enjoy scrapbooking and board games.
Good thing the Boy Scout Reservation is right down the street for a quick relaxing hike through.
Good thing Maria's solo photography show reception is this Saturday, instead of last.
Good thing meditation can happen anywhere.

Good thing... and it's all good.

Is your mushroom half full or half empty?

Just wondering...

Less is Way More

Camping really brings life into focus. No electricity, shared cold water at the roadside spigot, communal "flush" toilets, (after all it can't be too rough) -- and it rains. There are no bedrooms to retreat into, no tv to get sucked into, just a family, a picnic table covered by a screen house and a bin of board games. It doesn't get much better.

No microwave, no oven, just a gas stove top with three burners. Simple one pot meals, with still plenty of burner space to heat water for tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and dishes; all in the same pan. (And no dishwasher, but there is something very relaxing about washing dishes outside.)

Less is way way more, for sure.

Out On A Walk

On our walks we love to come across animals from interesting arthropods to wow-za reptiles, it's all cool.

The Brethren

What I enjoy most about walks in the woods are the questions that come up. Like this one: Do salamanders change color? Or are they born that way?

Independence Day

Cookouts with family and friends, swimming, boating, fishing, fireworks, road trips, camping, relaxing in a hammock swing. All brought to you by the sacrifices and service of those dedicated to the birth of our country, and to those who continue to fight for our freedom.

Freedom is not free.

Fellow Hiker

Just a photo today

As I think about leaving my camera home today, I'm posting a photo from years past. Can I really go without my camera? Could I not use my phone as backup? Some would ask what's the big deal? The deal is I'm never without a camera. Never.

A favorite line from a movie is, "I see dead people." For me, I see photographs. Constantly clicking off at this angle or that. Like Columbo, "Just one more shot."

Is the view of life different without a camera?

Marshmallows were made for roasting

And that's just what she is going to do.

If Life...

is trial and error, then it also is results, analysis and conclusion.

If we don't take time for ourselves, then we have nothing for anyone else.

And then there were two...