To Give Thanks

So with the Thanksgiving weekend past, we are now officially into the Christmas season. Except that since most stores that I have walked by and in have had Christmas stuff up since (and before) Halloween, I feel it is perfectly within reason to post a Thanksgiving post after the fact. The holiday Thanksgiving was begun as a celebration of the years harvests safely gathered in. Yearly after the last of the harvests (late October into early November) neighbors and families would gather together to celebrate. Although the most celebrated and well known historical Thanksgiving was the first Thanksgiving celebrated by the pilgrims after their first successful harvest in America. But what many people don't know is that it was not a national holiday for many years. It was not declared a holiday until Lincoln, in 1863 declared the last Thursday in the month of November to be Thanksgiving. In 1941 Congress made it the fourth Thursday in the month, making planning and calender printing much easier. So now we have a four day weekend in which to celebrate a good harvest. And also to shop like crazy getting insane deals on Christmas shopping. And don't forget putting up the tree and decorating the house. Now that is a busy weekend. But back to Thanksgiving. It is a time to think about what we are thankful for in this life. People rush here and rush there rarely thinking (or thanking) those who help them along the way. The mailman (or woman) who rushes to deliver all those packages on time. The clerk at the store who always smiles. The teacher who helps your child. Children (anyone's) that smile and make your world that much brighter. The men and women who wear the uniforms of our country, states, and cities and defend our rights with their lives. There are so many things in this life to be thankful for that there just isn't room for me to post them all. Suffice it to say: we are of the lucky few. We have internet which means we have a computor, we can read, we can talk. And most of all, we are alive. Thanks for being a part of my life.

The picture of Mr O and Peaches was taken when they were 3 and 1 1/2 respectively.

The second picture is of Aunt M (who is deceaced) and Peaches when she was about 6 months.

The Big One

Well the big birthday came and went without much incident. Mr O received several items of note. Oma sent a way way cool marble tower. The pieces are clear and so the progress of the marble is quite obvious from top to bottom. Really quite fascinating to watch once it was set up. Auntie gifted two puzzle books. Now all of us who know Mr O personally know that he thrives on puzzles, any kind of puzzles. He is loving the books, repeating the same pages over and over until I read the directions on another page. The tower has been redesigned many many times and each time Mom has to come check it out and note progress. Very fun! The excitement over each gift was so much fun to see! The greats also sent a card with a poem from Gramps that has been read over and over (I nearly have it memorized). He also received a large remote control jeep from Dad and Mom. So I now have a six year old. Oh where oh where did all the time go? He is excited and enjoying any kind of learning. Reading is coming quickly and math is a natural strength. Mr O is already doing beginning multiplication and division. Scary. The cake that was made and duly appreciated was of a dragon conquering a castle and a knight trying to repel it. Really really fun to make!

Oh For the Love Of...

You know those moments in time that happen and you just want to bottle them and save them for years and years? We totally had one. Visits from Auntie happen fairly often as we are in closer proximity now. But one of those heart stopping moments happened the last time we were together. Now to understand this post I'll need to give a little background. We come from very musical roots. All the years that we were under the same roof there was music. In many different forms. Piano, vocal, violin, viola, flute and even clarinet. In the evenings it was fairly common for us girls to gather around the piano and sing. Our voices would raise in harmony, and for a short while any and all arguments were forgotten, our differences were erased, and we just shared our love for music. Growing up like that was wonderful. Having music to turn to when all else is going crazy around me. There has been a bit of upheaval in our lives and to be able to get together and share our musical talents with each other was wonderful. Auntie plays piano beautifully and I got to sing along. Oh it was wonderful to stop and enjoy the moment for what it was. Beautiful. Everyone is familiar with the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, a song is worth so much more. One that is shared and enjoyed speaks to our souls, our hearts, and our minds. Music is the common language of the earth. Play Beethoven's 5th symphony anywhere in the world and someone in the crowd will recognize it. What a beautiful way to communicate.

Tulips

So not to long ago I posted about the new chicks that were going to be added to the menagerie here. Well, they have moved into and taken over the garage. They are now 18 days old, and so much bigger! It still amazes me that they came out of such a small object. It is wonderful to watch them grow, especially for the kids. They enjoy seeing the changes that take place daily. I love seeing their wonderment and awe as they watch the unexplainable take place. Of all the wonders of the world there are two that I believe do not get as much credit as they are due: Birth and Love. Every birth is a miracle whether it be human or animal. And Love is love. Everyone needs someone (or something) to love. Without love we shrivel and become bitter. Watching my beautiful children celebrating the miracles of birth and love will always amaze me.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

While out shopping with my wonderful Handsome man the other day, we found an old felt hat. Dark blue. One of the style that was worn during the Kennedy era. Brim that can be worn curled up or down or half and half. Really a very versatile hat. I loved it. Handsome bought it for me, and I proceeded to recreate it. Originally it had just a simple ribbon and small bow as accents. I ripped all of that off, replacing it with a red cotton band, button, lace, and fun little gold ribbons. Now that is a hat that totally rocks. I'll wear that.

While I was Checking Out

Along the road of life there are many choices that we may take. Go to school, or not. Get a PhD, or not. Get a job, or not. Those are just some of the bigger choices that are out there. The little ones are the ones that worry me. PBJ or salami? Tennies or boots? Jeans or sweats? Yeah, kinda silly. But the way I look at it is this. The big things tend to take care of themselves. You go to school to get a job so that you can pay bills. Easy. It seems as if time has gone rushing by without giving me even a sideways glance. Just yesterday Handsome and I were going on our first official date. We held hands in the park and talked for hours (nearly til dawn a couple times). Then I was married to my best friend and embarking on a new life. Suddenly we were parents of not one, but two. Oh how time speeds by! I'm not complaining of my age or anything, I just want to enjoy this moment for all it is worth while I have it.

Compliments to Libbie Schille for the photo.

And if you want more...

This last week the kids, TD and I went to the aquarium. We had a membership for the past year, and this was our last trip with said membership. The kids love seeing all the fish, touching the starfish, and watching the divers swim about feeding and cleaning the tanks. All in all it is very much worth a visit, if you are in the area. We had the opportunity to see a diver in the front tank (20'x15' of 12" thick plexiglass) who answered questions with an underwater mike that projected the sound into a speaker on our side of the glass. Lots of fun. Lots of pictures. There is one moment that really stood out for me, something the the kids, TD nor I had ever seen before. A scallop swimming. You know those beautiful clam-like creatures that can move about by "clapping" their shells together. We saw it happen, and it was COOL. The kids were fascinated. I love doing field trips where I don't even have to "teach," the kids teach themselves. Fun times! When we were done there, we walked over to the next pier where there is a indoor carousel and arcade. And that my friends, was the perfect way to end our outing. That and the cookies that we made back and TD's house...MmmmHmmm!

Of Cakes and Cookies

Today as I sit here in front of the wall, writing these words, I'm struck by how self centered our society as a whole has become. Now, as usual, I'm not throwing punches at anyone out there, I'm merely writing my opinion of society as a whole. Walking down the street 50 years ago, people would have come out of their houses to greet you. Standing there on the sidewalk you may have chatted for some time, depending on how well you knew the person. Now when I walk down the street with my children in our small town people go into their houses to avoid the simple small talk. The hello's are avoided for the sake of possible embarrassment over something or other. Meeting neighbors is another work of art in today's world. It used to be that when someone new moved into the neighborhood there was a housewarming party. If not that then the women living there would take plates of refreshment and "call" (walking over and usually lasting an hour or two) upon their new neighbor. Now if you really want to meet your neighbors you need to make cookies and go out to their houses. Not that I'm complaining about making the cookies, I love doing that! But when did the hospitality and sense of community stop being valuable traits? Granted we (at least in our neighborhood) come from several different walks of life. Everyone has different jobs. We are different ages. Some of us have children and some don't. It's a fact of life: everyone is different. Why then, as a society, can we not look past those differences and acquaint ourselves with real people. People who walk and talk. Face to face encounters where you can see the emotion rather than just imagining it from typed words on a screen. Personally my thought is that most are afraid. Afraid of not fitting in, not being nice looking, having less, having too much, being too busy, etc etc, the list could go on for hours. Face to face relationships are hard. They take work. You have to want to maintain it for it to flourish. When we look past our fears and actually get to know people, it usually turns out that those same fears were completely unfounded. People are nice. And we all have some similarities. Granted everyone is different, but we all have a heart and a mind. All it takes is a simple "hello." You never know...that person may be your next best friend, confidant, partner, love. So reach out, smile, say hi, and see how much you change the people's lives who surround you.

Strength in One

Lately I've been studying the book of Esther from the Bible. No, I'm not pushing my views upon you, that is a personal choice that I am more than willing to be a part of if you wish, but I won't push. Within this study I have been learning not only about the woman depicted within the book, but also of the time period that it takes place in. The king of Persia at that time was all powerful. He stood supreme in that country. If there was disobedience, punishment was banishment or death, whichever the king felt like. If the king wrote a law, or had one written upon which he placed his seal, there was no undoing it. That law was forever...or until said king died and his successor rewrote or erased it. Esther was a Jew. Now we all know that part of history that happened in Germany with the attempted annihilation of the Jewish people. Well, that was history repeating itself. Because the king of Esther's time allowed a law to be written that called for the destruction of the Jews within his country (Persia). Esther was queen, but that did not excuse her from the laws. She was under a death sentence. But here is where I was really floored. Esther was scared. She was petrified for her life and her people's lives. They were all going to die. Stick with me, I really do have a point. Now also in this time, you did not go to the king unless he called for you. Well...She went to the king. Without him paging her on the royal intercom. She chanced her life on the whim of the king. If he raised the scepter to her, she was safe. He did, and so she was spared. But to have that kind of gumption. To go against laws that were ingrained into the very heart of the people. I'm sure that she grappled with the decision within herself. But she took heart, gained the strength, and did it. Not only for her people, but for herself. I'm not trying to paint her as a completely selfish person, but she was under the threat of death just as the rest of her people were. Esther had to stand up for herself. We all have challenges within our own lives. Hopefully nothing as scary as fighting for our lives, but definite challenges. I know that I have mine. But I know that if I stand up for what I feel is right, then everything will turn out ok. Yeah, sometimes it's not the way that I want the situation to unfold, but it does get resolved. Life is challenging. Take the challenge head on, don't back down. We (YOU) can do it! (WWII poster)

Five Minutes

Five minutes can last forever. They can be a beginning or an end. Five minutes. There is something about my child being threatened by another source that makes me get all up in arms and very much into "mama bear mode." Peaches and I were calmly walking home from taking Mr O to school. The day was a little drippy, just enough for fun puddles but not enough for umbrellas (we just carried them). Suddenly there was a quickly moving black shape that started out behind us and swiftly circled around to the front. It was a dog. Normally I am a dog lover. Not to the point of bringing all the dogs home, but I like dogs. I stop to pet dogs that I know, try to catch stray dogs to notify their owners, and in general enjoy the furry four-legged creatures who are known as "man's best friend." I love getting the "doggy grin" when scratching behind their ears. The happy barks and tail wagging from happy dogs. But this dog was different. With no warning growl or even a bark, it's hackles were raised, teeth bared, and it was advancing on us with stiff legs, ready for a fight. If any of you have in past been threatened by a dog, you know what it is like. I was scared. Not for me, but for my precious girl. Thankfully the owner of the dog came and intervened, taking it home. But the image remains. Those five minutes lasted so long that it felt like hours. Just five minutes. How many heartbeats? How many breaths? What was thought about? Right then all I was thinking was to protect my child from a very real threat. But, what if...? Did I share enough? Was I a good enough mother? Do my kids know that I love them so much it hurts? I think so. Five minutes. Three hundred seconds. What can we do in that time?

Of Feathers and Flight

If anyone of you has ever seen a chick breaking through the shell, you know the awesomeness of seeing a miracle first hand. My wonderful friend Miss A had a hen escape. For a while we all assumed that she had become a meal for a hungry coyote. Not so. She found a wonderfully hidden spot in the neighbor's garden, nestled down and laid 21 eggs. Normally a clutch of eggs is between 10-12, but she laid 21. Well, she was discovered, and none too soon. Because after only a few days in the box with a heat lamp in the garage, tiny peeps were beginning to come from the eggs, signaling the wonderful event soon to take place. We all waited impatiently. Finally the first one cracked the small breathing hole. Then another and another. After several hours of breathing the outside air they could begin to break through the tough shell that held them captive. Pecking and peeping, turning and squirming, they slowly made their way into the bright light of the heat lamp. At first there was just the small hole in their shell for them to breath through. Then they would peck to the side of that, turning about inside their shell, until the whole shell had a crack all the way around it. Then the big push and out came the head. Next a good squirm and out came the overly large legs and body, the wings looking absurdly large with them still wet from the egg. Then mama hen stepped back in and provided the life giving warmth so that the chick could dry and regain the lost energy from such a long endeavor. Now that was a precious sight. Mama snuggling back up with her babies, clucking and comforting, spreading her feathers to give of herself for those little helpless ones.

Red Sunsets

An old saying goes "red sunset at night, sailor's delight." A red sunset usually means fair weather for the morrow. There is something about sail boats. They make me want to climb aboard and set sail for the unknown. My imagination in the driver's seat. Sail boats are beautiful boats. They have long smooth lines, tall mast(s), and those who travel with them have a penchant for adventure. Their beauty is unrivaled. The sight of a boat under sail upon the water is breathtaking. The billowing sails, taut ropes, and waves disappearing beneath the keel. A wonderful object that is both beautiful and functional. Sailing seems to make dreams come true. The old children's song about setting sail in a wooden shoe...Sailing into dreamland. Historically all of the original trading was by boat. That was the quickest and easiest way to have goods moved from place to place. Steamers would take passengers from place to place quicker than wagon. Clippers (1-2 masts) crossed the oceans in record time carrying passengers and small cargo. Larger schooners (3-4 masted ships) had large holds and carried large cargo across the unfriendly oceans. And even now, much commerce is still by boat. Huge cargo and tanker boats plow through the waves. Passenger liners take people to places that were never dreamed of 100 years ago. There are so many different kinds of boats, it is a little mind boggling. Adirondack, Aircraft Carrier, Banana Boat, Canoe, Catamaran, Catboat, Cruisers, Dory, Dinghy, Electric, Ferry, Fire boat, Fishing, Flatboat, Glass-bottom, Houseboat, Hydrofoil, Hydroplane, Junk, Kayak, Keel boat, Launch, Lift boat, Light boat, Motor boat, Narrow boat, Outrigger, Pinnace, Police boat, Pontoon boat, Raft, Reed boat, Scow, Skiff, Steamboat, Towboat, Tugboat, Umiak, Viking, Water taxi, Whale boat, Windmill Ship, Yacht, and Zodiac are but some of the hundreds upon hundreds of boats that were and still are used. Boats still play a very necessary roll today. Without them, life would be much different. So, lets set sail. Look at the boats and imagine...

Tricks, but no treats

So another Halloween come and gone. And once again my kiddos wanted nothing to do with trick-or-treating. I think this will be the last effort with that. The only somewhat fall, harvest, or halloweeny activity that they got into was coloring pumpkins. We went and visited Aunty, and got to draw and color on pumpkins. Oh that was fun! Mr O drew a face and colored it in, and Peaches drew what she called a face (it had a really big nose) with red hair. Oh it was fun! Then we went for a walk to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and breezes. Ahhh the waterfront smells good! Winding up the evening we got to bring the pumpkins home. The kids have been hauling them all over the house. Talking with the pumpkins, rolling them, and having them be stand-ins for playmates. Oh how cute! I'll actually be a little sad when we have to throw them away...