To Grow

Honestly my personal favorite thing of fall is leaf prints. You know, when a leaf sits on the sidewalk a little too long and leaves a print of itself behind when it finally gets washed away. To me it is a symbol of old things passing away, all things will become new again in time. Things will refresh, but for now, the earth is weary and needs rest. This isn't me saying that I'm really morbid, I'm not. I just truly enjoy the shedding of old, because I know that there will be a rebirth. That new life will be more beautiful than the old. And the cycle will repeat. Beautiful.

Strands of a Tapestry

Good friends are always just around the corner. Always. Sometimes it is some one with whom you have just made an acquaintance. Other times it is an individual that you have known for years. All it is is that moment. That infinitesimal spec of time that they go from just friends to good friends, or even best friend. The time that the individual showed characteristics worthy of our trust and love. I have been blessed to call many people friends and several best friends, but I had the opportunity not long ago to add another to the ranks of good friends. This individual has shown trustworthiness not only to me, but someone who is dear to me; has offered friendship, not just as a mask, but genuine friendship; and also has been there and done that and is willing to share relevant information. Friendship is not something that is walked into blindly. Friendship is a two way street, you give and take, but mostly give. Friends.

Walking a Line

Those of you who know me know that I love sewing. No really, I LOVE sewing. I find excuses to sew things. Baby books, quilts, dresses, costumes. I just love it. Thankfully I have a very patient husband who puts up with it. This past week I had the excuse to make yet another costume. Instead of the civil war era (hoop skirts) that I have been making, it was from a little later, about 1900. The long skirts with the slight bustle, lovely blouses, and gaudy hats. Oh it was fun! It took about two days (probably about 7 hours start to finish) to put it completely together, and then off to play in it! I don't usually get to play in my costumes, but this time...FUN!! Went to a Steamers Convention with my sister: http://www.steam-con.com/ . It was a day to enjoy. The industry boom that was happening at that time in the country affected the minds of the day as well. Things were predicted and tried, only to fail from lack of technology. But the imaginations kept rolling! Time machines, wings to fly, zapping guns, and hypnotizing machines were but a few of the ideas that crashed at the time. It was still a time to celebrate, which is exactly what we were doing. The ideas were good, and many are in use today. Add the raw ideas and the dress of the time together and that is what we experienced. Oh my word! The costumes! I was having a blast just people watching. It was 1900's meets Goth. It was great! If you really want to see what it was like do a search for "Steam Punk" and it'll give you lots. The imaginary world and works of the time were clashing wonderfully with the period correct and making a wonderful cacophony of sights. One beautiful lady was in period correct attire from head to toe, and she was talking with another clad in fishnets, short leather skirt, gypsy blouse, corset, and top hat with feathers adorning it. The brocades and silks would make any one's eyes pop out of their heads. And if that didn't get the job done, the "futuristic" weaponry and mad-scientist gear would. There were boots, shoes, slippers, and sandals. Brocade, silk, fishnet, tulle, cotton, and stretch knit. The hats ranged from tiny top hats to the hard hats that were worn by those who wished to go exploring in the jungles. Top hats, broad brimmed covered in feathers, silk and lace confections, and felt hats. Oh, how wonderful and fun! The beauty and craziness. I can't wait to go next year...

A Different Take on Breast Cancer Awareness

So while my wonderful husband was shopping online, he found something of interest. There is a new Walther P22. Yes, it is a handgun. It looks like any other normal handgun. Like perhaps a police officer may carry. The only difference is that it is pink. Yes, PINK. So there you have it. The new breast cancer awareness gun. http://www.discountgunsales.com/walther-p-22-hope-edition-34-pr-4228.html

The Underground

While we were out and about we went on the underground tour that is in this small coastal community. We began by learning a short history of how the town came to be. It used to be half and half on the water and next to the water. So it flooded irregularly. Shop owners would place their wares up on counters and shelves higher than waist level because they didn't know whether or not their shop would be flooded in the night. To solve the problem they started by building up the streets. Leaving the 4 foot sidewalk in place they put boards anywhere from 4 to 12 feet high in the middle of the street depending on the street (the ones higher up the hill receiving the short ones). After all the braces were in place they poured concrete. Back in the day pouring concrete was bucket by bucket, hand mixed and hand poured, continually until the job was done. Once the concrete walls were in place they could bring in the dirt. Not by truck, by water. The hill behind the town was sluiced. By building a wooden pipeline and pumping water, they created mud that ran down the hill into the roadways that were ready. The dirt settled and the excess water drained out into the ocean. With the roads that needed a lot of fill (like 12 feet) it required six years for it to completely dry out. They still needed the roadways to be usable, so in came the lumber and they had boardwalk roads as well as sidewalks. The sidewalks were still on the original level, so at each corner there were stairs on each corner to climb, cross the street, and descend. Not much time passed and the store owners were either raising the buildings upon which their business rested, or converting the space below into basements and opening a new store front on level with the new street. Soon the sidewalks and streets were level, and the underground was still there, just not as needed as before. The staircases remained, and in some cases still used, but mostly doors and locks were put in place. The construction from start to finish, from building the concrete forms to a usable road, took six months. That's right; just six months. Half the town raised up to a flood-free level in half a year. Wow. Once finishing on the pictorial history, we moved on to walking the town. Many of the shops and buildings in use today were there when the town was formed. Many still have original decorations and boxes of antiques in their attics and in upstairs rooms. Walking up some stairs in one building we were regaled with stories about a questionable business that was there. Moving on to the next store there was shoes, shoes, and more shoes. The place had been a shoe store for the entire existence of the town. It was wonderful! The smell of old leather, the old safe that is used as a desk, and the original windows and floors really made the store very memorable. They also still had the original art on the walls to entertain the kids. A 10 foot long by 3 foot tall picture with moving parts. It was really cool, and still works! Ahhh, I wanted those shoes, but they weren't for sale. Ah well... A wonderful history and legacy that a tiny town has.

Trucks and Bugs

Had I known years ago that rubber boots came in so many shapes, sizes and styles I would have started a collection! Thankfully, I did not, so the savings account is safe Handsome. We had the luck to go into a store this past weekend that had a rubber boot section. Not just a half isle like most stores, oh no, a whole section of the store was devoted to rubber footwear, most of which were boots. Oh. My. Goodness! I could have looked for hours... Bugs several different kinds, trucks, cammo, spots, stripes, some animals, plaid, solid colors, and more. Wow! I love boots, but this was still a little much for me. Way way cool. Kids boots and adult boots. Boots. Boots. Boots. I was in boot heaven! Now I know where to go when mine finally wear out...

A Repeat of the Same Song

So I had my birthday. It was fabulous! We went over to the ocean for a couple days and just enjoyed small town life away from home. It was so nice. I had the greatest seafood I've ever had (no really, it was totally AWESOME), it was also the most expensive. But worth it...Oh so worth it. We played on the beach for a couple hours, got thoroughly wet and tired before going to dinner. We did change first... Peaches and Mr O did their normal "there's water so we can get wet" routine. They are so cute! Peaches would follow the water out, and then turn and run as the wave chased her back in. She did eventually get caught by a wave and got wet, but she was sure trying to stay dry. Mr O didn't try. Well, he did for about 2 minutes. He is so much like me that it is a little scary some days. I was sent home from school on a couple of occasions because I would stand under the rain spout and get wet, simply because I LOVE water. So does Mr O. In the course of about 10 minutes he was soaked up to his waist, and totally enjoying rushing the waves. Jumping, splashing, and in general having a blast. The walk back to the car was a little squishy though. Peaches found a beautiful shell. She is observant with things like that. Seeing the little things and dissolving tough situations with brother seem to be her forte right now. Although, she is a rebel in her own right. Playing in the water seemed to sooth everyone from our rough (and long) week. We had all taken turns being sick, and we were all tired. But the ocean has a way of soothing the soul. It was good. Very good. We'll go back soon.

Tigers

Fall flowers have a certain quality about them that summer flowers just never seem to have. The colors stand out more because the surrounding plants are wilting and getting brown from cold. They seem to have a stamina that summer flower just can't match. Wind, rain, hail, and cold tries to push these flowers into submission, but they will have none of it. Tall and proud they stand. Waving in the wind. Facing the rain and hiding from the hail. But once they get even the slightest hint of somewhat palatable weather, they are out in full force, defying the elements. Daring. These are the true athletes of the horticulture world. Until the frost touches them. Then they are like any other flowers, brown around the edges and wilting with the weather. Next year they will be back. They always come back.

To Give Light

Lighthouses have quite the history in the coastal communities of our country. They stood for strength, honor, and courage. There is a certain feeling about them. As if they know more than they are able to tell. Mystery. Men lived and died keeping the lights going for those who sailed the seas. Their courage and strength live on within the stones of the structures that they kept. The ever rush of waves. Winds blowing at gale forces. Rains pouring from every direction. Snow and hail finding their way into the cracks between stones and glass. Still the light has to be tended. Now it is a little different. The oil lamps have been replaced with powerful electric bulbs that are set with a timer. Stepping back in time things were very different. The oil had to be hauled up the narrow stairs and poured into a vat. The huge lenses needed washed daily from the build up of soot. Usually there were four lenses, each measuring about 3 feet around, and convex (like a magnifying glass) to enlarge the flame so that it could be seen by passing boats. After cleaning the lenses, the wicks needed checked. The wicks were like those found in kerosene lanterns, only wider. Checking, trimming, and replacing them if needed was very very important. Without a working wick, the light would go out, leaving men to founder in unfriendly seas. Just as the sun sank below the horizon, the lamp (sometimes more than one) would be lit. If the keeper had done everything correctly, then the light would shine for miles. A beacon. A light. A friendly signal to those on the seas. A lighthouse signal meant land was near but anchor 'til morning, this place is unsafe. It gave hope to sailors who were out to sea for months at a time. It meant only a few more days and they would be home. It was a hospitable sign from an inhospitable landscape. Home was near. Warm beds, families, and friendship. To those men and women who tended lights (and still do), a toast to your hard work. The courage, strength, and honor that stood within the walls of lighthouses gives us strength. The light that burns within gives us hope.

Lemmings

We spent a day this last weekend at a wonderful old army hold out. A real good ole Fort. The kind that you can look over the wall and see forever out over the water, but from the water you can't see much at all. There was lots of exploring to do. Mr O and Peaches were on full throttle all day long. They only stopped long enough for a sandwich at noon. There was a decommissioned lighthouse that we walked to. It sat near a bluff overlooking the water that it protected. The ships that came would see the blinking light and be warned that the shore was not safe. Walking inside it was as if we were transported back in time. The spiral steps that we climbed were the same steps that many feet from keepers past trod to light and extinguish the lamp that was housed there. A beautiful landmark. It seemed a little out of place so near the fort. The beautiful white was stark contrast to the greens, browns, and greys of the fort. Grassy fields separated the two pieces of history, and the children ran across with abandon. Climbing the cement steps that once felt the tread of heavy boots was a new experience for me. It was almost as if we could hear the steady thumping of a company of men in step, the shouts of commanders, static radio transmissions, and the boom of the guns. Walls of grey that once housed several hundred men were duly explored and pronounced fun. Hide and seek within those walls was much more fun than at home. The echos carried very well within the bare rooms, confusing those seeking. Shafts that led upwards to the sunlight were once used to ferry ammunition to the guns and bring the spent shells back down for reloading. Climbing the steps again we were out on top looking down. On one side was the water stretching out forever, blue and sparkling. The other side was a steep drop down to the grass of the parade grounds. We paced the cement of the gun ports, imagining the awe that must have been felt when they were shot. Shaking the building, the sound echoing, the distant thump of the shell hitting. There seemed to be secrets held within the walls themselves, waiting to be let out. Making it through the last gun port, we made our way down the steep slope to the beach. It wasn't much of a beach, a lot of the reason that there was a fort there. The high bluff prevented an easy slope down and the narrow beach was covered in driftwood as far as we could see. That didn't stop the kids from having a blast climbing, splashing, throwing, and jumping. When they were soaked enough to begin complaining, we headed home.

A Whole New World of Legos

Yes, I know what you're thinking. Those cool building bricks that stick together in an infinite number of ways. Well...Over the weekend we were able to visit a Lego convention and see all the stuff that they had on display. Wow. I mean, Oh. My. Word. There were so many things to see, that I'm sure we didn't see them all. Only a few of the displays were made from kits (and those were clearly labeled). This was a bunch of people (mostly guys) who are really really into Legos, and building with said Legos. There were cranes and cars that worked, powered by batteries. How cool is that?! A Lego crane, that lifts, swivels, and drops things just like a real crane. A 4 foot long Japanese garden, complete with guys practicing with staffs, a large house, bridge, pond, gate, and market street. This was fully detailed down to the flowers and people. It looked like a picture from Japan, just done in Lego. Crazy! There was a town (roughly 10'x15') with skyscrapers, buses, a working train, cars, a car wreck with emergency personnel on scene, and more. Every little detail that you might find in everyday life was there, depicted in Legos. Then there were the mini things: miniature towns, trains and cars, all with the same amount of detail, just small. There was a fair with rides (that ran): the scrambler, a Ferris wheel, and a carousel. It was really quite amazing to see what some people created with just Legos. The detail that was achieved and the attempt to make them seem nearly real was cool. A battle ship took up most of one table, next to it the ship's crane. Old England and fantasy took up another 10'x15' space as knights battled for castles, dragons stole maidens, and the countryside was simple. Murals on one wall depicted the dome on the White house, a movie poster, and a face. There was a particularly interesting entry: a scaled down version of the Smith Tower. It was taller than me! And it was in Legos! It was really cool to see all these things, and also a little scary. To overhear conversations of how so-and-so could have made that particular building more to scale and more realistic was so funny I about peed myself. These guys were totally serious though!

The Geekiness is Now Expanding to Camping Gear

A few days ago, Handsome was told about something pretty cool. So, of course, he had to try it out. After a little research and a trial run, he had something to show me. Ta Da!! Meet the new, and revolutionary camping stove! Made from two pop cans and burning regular rubbing alcohol. They are pretty dang cool! You can boil 2 cups water in about 7 minutes (or a little less), and it can be used indoors (so long as you open a window a little). Let the fun times roll! And now we can have smores in the comfort of our garage. Which is exactly what we did last night. MmmmmmHmmmm!

A Letter to the Editor

If I were to be able to time warp letters to myself at age 16 and 40, at this point in my life, this is what I would say.

Dear Sweet 16,

I know life isn't as "sweet" as everyone said it would be. Life is tough, and rough, and you feel lost so often. Asking for help is ok. No one will shun you for asking (and taking) advice. Even though it seems as if Mom and Dad are horrible ogres who live to torment you, they are just trying to take care of you. They love you dearly, even though they don't say so. Give Dad all the hugs that you can. Before too long things will happen that will send your relationship with him onto the ropes; you both will reconcile, but it will take a while. Just remember that he loves you. The move from the farm really was hard. The barn especially missed. But you'll adjust and be able to do more things with living closer to school. Don't worry so much about getting your licence, you pass everything with flying colors (except parallel parking). Dad will get you a car, your first stick shift, and you'll be able to drive it quite well. On those mornings that you are unable to park where you want to, chill. It's ok. The music parking lot is small and not everyone can park there. Those boys you are crushing on, forget them. They are not worth your time. Some of them end up being dads at early ages, and you don't need that. The man you will marry is one of your friends, one of the better ones. He'll ignore you for a year, and then you'll patch it up. He's a wonderful man who understands you and will bring out the best in you. Those parties that you really want to go to, but can't. Don't worry about them, no one remembers about them. They really weren't that important. And those little "clicks" that have formed around you. Don't worry about not fitting in, you won't ever "fit in," so get used to it. You have the ability to make friends across the borders of the "clicks" and they are all wonderful people (you are still in contact with several). Accept people for who they are and try not to exclude them, even if you don't really like them, they need your love more then they care to admit. Put your heart into everything you do. Make every moment count. Love everyone, they all need it.

I love you!

Your much older (only a little wiser) self.

Dear Beautiful 40,

Can you believe that Mr O and Peaches are really that old? I know that to check on them when they are asleep is a little silly now, but they are so sweet. Please kiss them both for me. They grew up so fast! Mr O is gearing up for college, and will soon be leaving. Peaches is looking forward to being an only kid. Mr O finally got his act together in high school and did pull good grades (with some prodding). Peaches lives for the music that makes her dance. It didn't really surprise you when she decided to do more music and arts then anything else in school. Thanks for supporting her and being there for all those activities, even though your job suffered. Mr O did the school work that was necessary, and did lots of projects at home. Not a big deal for a kid who can built rockets with stuff out of the cupboards. I'm glad that you stuck it out with Mr O's personality. He can be a handful, but it sure did pay off! So how are you dealing with soon to be empty nesting? Did you ever get up the guts to go sailing with Handsome? I'll bet that it is lots of fun, even though it is a little scary sometimes. How is the Photography going? I know that you wanted to have a studio. Developing those pictures must be so much fun! Seeing the pictures come alive beneath your hands. Handsome is looking forward to retirement (and so are you), even though it is still a ways away. How are the plans coming? Just remember to keep somewhere for the kids to call home when they are on break. The sailboat should be a fun way to travel, especially in the summer months. And the cabin will be nice in the winter. That was a great find.

Love you!

Your much younger (not quite so wise) self

One of my dear friends (Libbie, http://www.diaryofanairforcewife.com/main-page/2009/9/30/dear-me-when-i-was-still-you.html) did this on her blog, and I loved it. So, there you have it.