Monday, November 26, 2007

Thoughts on another Monday morning...

It's raining, in fact it rained all night. Something to be thankful for. We've had some rain lately, in fact our yard has "come back". Our filled in mosquito hole is green again. We've nurtured it like a new born baby since we reclaimed the front yard. It was billed as a pond on our listing when we first saw the place, but according to our neighbors it was insect ridden and an eye sore. Deciding to reclaim it was easy, after the backhoe found the escape route of the water it was determined we had a fissure in the underlying rock that led, I assume to the lake and that is why the "pond" always went dry, except for the myriad of cat tails and mosquito larvae, and 4 inches of tannened leaves on the bottom. We made a waterway so the water that did come into the basin would not erode the newly filled hole, backfilled it and planted Kentucky 31 to green the area. It rained enought to produce beautiful green grass, then the rain stopped, no rain for over 2.5 months. My kids get a kick out of moms obsession with this statistic. I am an "D" over "I" personallity, I don't usually do statistics, I leave that for the "S" & "C" people, and rely on them to let me know what I need to know. Anyway, I've been on a learning curve this past year, new roads, new shops, slow down, learn solitude, rely on my cell phone and web cam for company, new coloquilisms, and patients. So I guess I'll add statistics in a broad and general term to that list. The other night my son and I were on the phone and he joked that I knew the number of trees in our yard. I knew that number because I was amazed by it, it's around 60, all shapes, sizes, catagories, species. I had 6 trees in my yard in Iowa, and I had them put in.....so 60 is a bounty. He asked me why I knew the number, I gave him the same answer I just shared with you, and I detected a little snicker. Something like; "Mom is getting old, she keeps track of the weirdest things." snicker. Well, I'm not old, I am just in a place where I'm learning, and for a "D" who is used to teaching, learning is a good place.

On a different front. I ventured into Somerset on Friday. Black Friday to be exact, I had to retreat the natives were restless and I was not wearing any armor. I ran my chores, and quickly returned to the peace and tranquillity of our home. But there wasn't tranquillity, there was a leaf blower going to coax the leaves from the above said 60 trees into a pile. Jeff, blower in hand spent a good 3 hours blowing and blowing and blowing, she should have been winded, ha, but instead all he had was a sore back from hauling tarps of leaves into formation. Thank goodness for Tiger Balm and a rice sock, or I'd be hearing a whine of a grown man. Would you like a little cheese with that whine?

Today is work day, I must get back to my jewelry, I'm excited as I have not worked with pearls since I left my goldsmith back in Iowa. I've just gotten a parcel of biwa, coin and potato pearls and some gemstones that will become a new creations this week. I do miss that shop, and the great people who I worked and created with. I miss some of the fun customers that would allow me to have my way with thier stones and gold. The owner, James, is a very gifted and talented "smith". He has a clear eye and his work with metal, turn lumps of metal into graceful, elegant pieces, that are pleasing to the eye. I miss you J H. I do not have the knowledge to be a smith, the ratios, the amalgams, and mallability, but, I can do what I do. dobedobedoooooo

I am updating a few of my favorite links today also. You might want to check them out.

Last night I received an e-card from my daughter-in-law that featured our grandkids, it was so cute, I decided to create one too, here is link to ours. Enjoy!

I'ts almost 9 a.m the rain is still falling, the sky might be gray, but the earth is smiling. Peace.........

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

He's good!

All I can say is....God, you are great and mighty, and I love you!

Remember to remember Hope..


It's the day before Thanksgiving and I have to admit I'm getting excited about the holidays this year even though won't be traveling home, not enough time and I miss our family in Iowa with every beat of my heart. My excitement I guess is the child left in me that I love. I have noticed people are friendlier, more generious, I see a few more smiles here and there. I saw a lady at one of the local stores last week with "deelieboppers" with holiday streamers like icicles for a Christmas Tree on her head. I let her know I thought she looked festive, she, (I thought she worked at the store), she said she loved life and loved to have fun, she said more people smile at her and probably think her crazy, but she didn't care, she had a huge smiles of her face and I could tell she was having a ball. There is that place in each of us that wants to go back to that time in thier life where we always had rose colored glasses on. Everything was magical and new. I see that now with my grandchildren, I know they must be getting thier lists together, thumbing through the Toy's R Us catalogs, and Farm & Fleet fliers. Hope, that is what children posses and adults tend to forget... hope. Hope of things yet to come, whatever that may be.

Our daughter, Becky and daughter-in-law, Steph, are going to take Steph and Rich's children "shopping" for others. Monies will be pooled and the kids will make a food shopping list, shop for the food and take it to one of the shelters or food banks in thier town. How wonderful is that? Our Rich & Steph's kids will know that there are people out there who need help, and that they can do something about helping others. I know many turkeys will be cooked tomorrow to help feed the homeless in our hometown in Iowa, and I am humbled that these little ones will help to feed them. Then, our daughter Becky & her husband Brad are going to go help serve at one of these dinners. Isn't that the spirit of Thanksgiving....the native Americans helped the new settlers surivie, there are many who are just surviving today. Lets remember them too.

Black Friday will happen next, I choose not to particpate....no giving there only taking.

We are going to keep things simple this year, we'll remember to remember hope, joy, love and most of all peace.......

Friday, November 9, 2007

Are there Wolves in S E Kentucky?


Last night as I was about to let my dogs out before turning in for the night, I was startled as I opened my front door. Just off my front porch were two huge wolves. Just last weekend someone remarked that they had seen a wolf who had been hit on the interstate not far from here. He had heard they were being reintroduced to Kentucky. I am sure they were not coyotes, I've been close to coyotes, these animals were much larger, and had dark guard-haired coats. They both jumped as soon as I opened the door, they had been drinking out of the water bowls I keep for the birds. They were very startled. I had noticed the past week or so that the dogs go nose nuts around the bowls in the morning, and search for "something" and look off into the woods across from us. I knew something had been visiting in the night because Snickers has growled during the night and was looking out our window. I did startle these guys, thank goodness I have a storm door. They ran to the other side of the road and turned and looked over at me and now the crazed dogs that were in the house wanting out. Then they took off to who knows where. I have seen wolves in natural museums and at a Bass World museum in Missouri. These animals were as large and the same colors as the wolves I've seen stuffed. My thoughts raced.......how exciting.........how scary..........how cool...........keep your eyes open girl when you walk.....I don't have a big stick..like that would do any good. Duke was ready for the fight, he barked and growled, all 7 pounds of him. Snickers is VERY protective of her domain and just about went through the glass door......well it took sometime to settledown for bed. I did have to get up at 3 a.m. to let them out because I wouldn't let them out earlier and I didn't want puddles in the morning. Now I have a new sound to listen for in the night and I am truly excited that nature rules here close to the Daniel Boone National Forest. Life is as it should be.........peace!