Waterbed Hippies

Well it finally happened, we are finally growing up......  Well, sort of........  Well, maybe not too quickly anyway and in small increments.  A couple weeks ago our waterbed sprung a leak.  It is the second time since the 70's that this has happened.  This was big compared to the first.  Dry, warm and comfy one night and cold, wet feet the next night.  Water in the liner was major. 

So we decided to look at something different.  All of our children have sleep number beds and love them.  So we went to see what the fuss was about.  And the salesperson did an excellent job of making us totally comfortable.  Maybe we shouldn't have gone in the late afternoon, when nap time sometimes calls us ever so gently now and then.  Yes, it was comfy and I could have napped while pondering the choice of another waterbed or the sleep number.  Not exactly what the salesperson encouraged.

Almost two weeks later the new bed arrived.  We have just slept the third night on this overpriced air mattress and I LOVE it!  So we are no longer hippies from the 70's.  We are reaching our mid-life crisis it seems.  I guess that isn't so bad, we are in our 60's! 

"I Spy".........

I think I'm normal, although there has been some talk from the children that could cause me to question, "what is normal?".

Some new Bluebird boxes
2013

This morning I'm enjoying my coffee at the back of the house, watching birds is a great form of entertainment from this vantage point.  I watch the garden whirly-gigs spin in the wind.  The sun is shinning and I'm trying to decide how to spend my day.

I have fourteen more bluebird boxes to put around the old horse pasture, finding enough fence posts without purchasing more is a challenge.  The sun is shining and the wind in my face would feel really good today.  I have been missing the fresh air and sunshine.  It is still January so I should take advantage of the day.

As I ponder the possibilities and watch the birds, I'm a little distracted by the blue bottles that sit on my window sills.  Blue IS my favorite color after all.  These bottles are so pretty with the light coming through them, it is my stain glass window.  I took a photo, because it looked so nice and upon looking at the picture I realize my window looks like a picture in an "I SPY" book.   I have often thought of setting up photo groupings and then playing "I spy" with my own groupings.  I think that would be fun to do with my grand kids. 

Stain Glass Window
(or I SPY Photo)

So........  this little photo started me thinking of groupings, a blog and maybe even creating my own little I spy book and printing it out in photobook on line........  OMG!  It would be the perfect way to have a photo record of the stuff I've collected.

Oh no.........  I may not get to the bluebird boxes today, my ideas are now swimming around in my head, making me a little dizzy............
Now you know why my children give me a hard time about my state of "normal".

I Live With Santa

My wonderful hubby looks like Santa.  He has the most beautiful white beard and moustache.  When he puts on a Santa hat, everyone comments.  Being a man with an easy smile and a true gift of gab, he will certainly visit with you if just say "hello".

We have often been places that little children point and try to alert their parents that Santa is eating at the table nearby.  I have been witness to waitresses flirting and people smile when he walks past them.  He has the most fun wearing his Santa hat and driving his old model A Ford Truck and going through Tim Horton's drive through.  I wonder though, is he playing a part or have I watched waaaay too many Christmas Hallmark movies!!!!

As I look back on the years, I have to wonder exactly what he does with all his time since retirement.  He might actually have a workshop in our other barn.  I have never really snooped through that barn, it's usually too messy.  And yet, I remember how shocked he was one day when I just "happened" to open the doors while he was in there working.  Nothing looked especially different......, but then I didn't check the "back room".

Now I am seriously wondering about his trip to Florida in December for the last three years.  He is supposedly "helping a friend drive to Florida".  He then spends the next ten days doing exactly what?   I don't really know.  He tells me that he is getting a little R&R, relaxing at the pool, going to a car show, kayaking in the gulf, checking out the Harley shops and enjoying time with his friend.  I have to wonder about all of this, there are no pictures, no real evidence to prove he is in Florida!!!!

Meanwhile, I am at home.  Taking care of elderly dogs, Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, planning Christmas dinner with the kids, checking and re-checking my lists, making sure packages are mailed to far off places, creating and writing Christmas cards and even trying not to make a mess of the house!!!  And  I ask, who is the real Santa?????

Mr. Claus is due back from his ten day trip today.  I am rushing around, picking up the house, chasing porch cushions that blew away last night from the mighty winter wind, running snacks to Village Artisans open house this evening, bring in the trash cans from the curb, trying to finish the last minute handmade gifts in the studio and all before I have to pick him up at the airport this afternoon. 

I hope he is well rested for his journey on Christmas Eve.  I'm not quite sure how he does that, he is always snoring away when I finally finish the morning homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast and climb into bed.   I might just keep an eye open this year and make sure he isn't secretly leaving after I've fallen asleep.  Oh heck, who cares, I'm worn out and need my sleep............

Merry Christmas friends!  Remember it isn't the gifts, it's family near and far and the love they share every day.  Blessings and Joy and Love to you all!

Christmas Traditions

As time moves along, changes in traditions occur.  The changes don't come easily, I guess it wouldn't be a tradition if it kept changing too quickly. 

In times past (when our children were small), Christmas day was a whirlwind of rushing.  The day ended with total exhaustion and normally sweet children were upset and melting down quickly. 

Our children were always up at the break of dawn to see if Santa had come.  (We their parents, often didn't get to bed much before 1am.) Gifts were torn open with excitement from under our tree and breakfast, usually homemade sweet rolls, were eaten.  We then headed to my Mom and Dads, more gifts.  Then we would all rush off to Springfield and be with my Grandmother for Christmas dinner and more gifts.  Late afternoon/evening we headed to my wonderful husbands mothers house for another big meal and more gifts.  After 12 hours of gifts, eating and picking up paper, we were CRAZY!

No one ever wanted to change, some of this could have taken place Christmas Eve.  Everyone wanted Christmas Day!   As our children married and started having families, the house began to shrink, we moved to buffet style dining, on paper plates and people sitting at tables placed anywhere possible.  It was difficult to hold a conversation, things seem to be in constant movement.  Those who went through the line first were done and moving to deserts while others were just sitting down to eat their meal.  It was crazy but it worked and I am grateful that we still gather.

Again changes came, after loosing Richard's sister, we decided to just do one holiday gathering, taking the pressure off eating two or three Thanksgiving dinners on Thanksgiving day and the same with Christmas day.  Slowly the girls (our daughters and nieces) were beginning to host the events.  It was nice to see them taking a turn with the family traditions.  This year I decided to jump in and take another turn!


Being the now oldest in the family line, I haven't forgotten the "old" way.  Our parents set the table with their finest china, grace was said, serving dishes were passed around the table.  People talked while the food was being passed, laughter heard at the kids table and everyone was a part of all conversations.  It seemed slower and less hectic with everyone sitting at once.

This year at our house we went back to that tradition.  We had a sit down meal with all the trimmings.  I wanted to honor the china that has been carefully treasured through the years.  I wanted my girls to understand how important this china is to family traditions, mostly because of what it represents to me.  The twelve place setting of white Noritake with a silver band around the edge came as a wedding gift from my birth father, over forty-three years ago and the ten piece flowered place setting came from my husbands wonderful mother in 1989.  Both of these people are no longer with us, but I hope they joined us for a few minutes as we gathered together and remembered them this year in 2012.

Our living room was cleared of extra furniture, the dining room table was moved to the living room.  All eight leaves were put in the old oak table. (I purchased this table at an auction before we married for sixteen dollars.)  I cloaked it with Christmas table cloths, and pulled out the china and cloth napkins.  We also set up another pair of tables and covered them as well.  We had a place for twenty six people to sit together in one room and the Christmas tree was brightly glowing in the background.

A most recent tradition (of at least twenty years) was to cook the turkey donated by our adopted family friend.  This turkey is always the Greene County Fair Grand Champion bird.  I think every year it has gotten bigger.  This year it weighted in at 31.5 lbs!  As you can see by the picture I wasn't totally prepared!  After acquiring the proper size pan, things went more smoothly.

Yes, it is a lot of work, getting ready for a family holiday sit down dinner.  And yes, it was worth every moment.  I have wonderful children and nieces who did the total clean up.  Before the evening was gone and my feet were up, they had everything back in its place and it looked as if nothing of any note had happened.

A few pictures and this blog will allow the memory to live on.  I again feel blessed and gratitude is overflowing.  Merry Christmas to all that shared the table, to all who read my stories and to all of our ancestors who led the way and started our family traditions.

Sitting At The Laundromat

Having just returned home from a ten day vacation from Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, it became clear that I would have to do laundry immediately.  I also found that our washer is not properly working and waiting on it to be fixed immediately was only a dream.  The washer was going to need new parts.

So I decided to go to the laundromat.  I haven't been to a laundromat in twenty years and only then because the kids were in 4-H and needed jeans washed and returned to them for the next event or show that called for clean clothes.

Nothing much has changed in those twenty years.  I find myself there with others my age, wearing sweat pants and a baggy sweatshirt because all the clothes needed washed.  Glamor shots at the laundromat are not taken here!

I started my line of washing machines, six washers all together, the tubs aren't as big as my washer at home.  I add the detergent and the quarters and looked for a chair to wait.  There are no chairs, so I go to the car and get my folding chair, left in the car from the last pow wow and bring it inside.

As I sit and wait 25 minutes for the washers to run, I have time to observe my surroundings.  People watching is always a great way to spend time.  These are the things I found amusing............

..... Children find laundry carts on wheels to be the most fun.  No matter how many times their grandma threatens them.

..... Men seem totally out of place in a laundromat.

..... People can't really hear the TV because of all the noise from the washers and dryers and children squabbling.

..... Magazines are tattered and torn, unreadable and outdated.

..... No one seems to be any happier than I am to be there!

..... NO ONE here is interested in the OSU/Michigan game on TV.

..... Wondering if I should be wearing a watch to see if the dryer times are what I'm actually paying for, they seem somewhat off!

..... Kids think the empty laundry baskets turned upside down make great drums!
(my kind of kids, wondering if they are connecting their heartbeat to that of the Mother Earth when they drum........)

..... "MOMMA?"  "WHERE ARE YOU?"  (I pray she didn't leave!!!)

..... It's somewhat embarrassing to fold your unmentionables in front of strangers.

..... Rule #1, Don't drop clean clothes on the laundromat floor.

..... Rule #2,  don't bring your leftover turkey sandwich with you to eat for lunch.   Those of us who are hungry might just throw you in a large dryer and consume your lunch for you!

..... Leaving the laundromat is the best thing in the world!  Ten days of laundry done in 1 1/2 hours!!!!

 

The Talk............

Last weekend I was ask to speak about my tipi experiences.  I agreed to do this a couple weeks prior to the engagement.  As soon as I agreed I became nervous, I really don't like speaking before a group.  I know, I know.......  I would be among friends and like minded people and yet it still causes butterflies in the pit of my stomach.

I was to speak before a group of people that gather for a Mending Medicine Retreat every fall in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  Our teacher is a very special Lakota man, John Two-Hawks.  And I am going to talk about my tipi!!!  Serious reason to have some doubts about my decision to speak, I claim no connection to the indigenous people, at the same time I am VERY drawn to their customs and culture.  However, I know John and he is not a person who judges anothers journey.  I have shared my concerns about doing things that are not from my culture, it makes me uneasy and I tread here lightly.

So the day came and I often thought of backing out and yet I love talking about the tipi and the gifts it has brought my way.  By evening I was sure it would be okay to talk......... until the introduction began.  Fear crept into my very soul!  I was being called to the podium.

The beginning was a little shaky, I was trying to explain my need for a tipi began as an idea that I needed a place away from everyday things.  At that time I was working hard to get my gourd art out into the world, doing two or three fine art shows a month.  I was not taking time for myself, I was loosing my connection to nature and it was beginning to wear on me.   I have always been out in nature, riding horses, camping and often just sitting in a woods.  I was really missing that in my life.

 A tipi would be my vacation at home, it began as such seven years ago.  What causes me to become emotional is the fact it has become so much more.  It has taught me many things about myself and how I want to live my life.  That is what I wanted to translate to my friends sitting before me.  I have written blogs on my tipi lodge in the past, the most important part is what I want to share today. 

The lodge poles of a tipi are it's bones, they sit on our Mother Earth in a circle, the poles reach for the sky.  The door faces east, the place of the rising sun.
The bones of the tipi are covered in canvas (in the old days buffalo skins).
The most important part came to me several years down the road.  A fire inside the tipi is the heart, the center, the very soul of the tipi lodge.  The fire gave my tipi lodge life.

All of these things about the tipi are also us..........  We are a frame of bones, covered with skin.  We walk on this earth and reach for the sky.   The "fire" that lives inside our frame is our heart, our passion and our soul. 

Feed your heart when the fire goes low, fill yourself up, lighten the world around you.  Warmly embrace your friends and loved ones.  Feed your passions.  Listen to what your soul needs.

I wished I'd remembered all those points when I spoke, I write them now while I am alone with my spirit self, I can hear clearly now and I listen.  I comes easily in this quiet place, unlike when I am speaking. 

To finish my talk, I read what was written on the back of the painting I placed in this blog.  The painting is done on the canvas of my first tipi lodge.  After several years of sun, rain and wind it became frayed and worn, Hurricane Ike finished her off four years ago and I couldn't bring myself to throw the canvas away.  And so it was finally revealed to me, I must cut it into circles and paint stories upon the canvas.  And I did. 

The back of the canvas/painting reads;
                      This canvas is filled with dreams, visions and ceremonies
                  from all who came and sat under its lodge poles and canvas
                  of white.  Campfires brought warmth and comfort, the smoke
                  carried prayers to the Creator.
                       The smoke stains are the prayers that yet ripple through
                  eternity.  May you feel the prayers and the great honor I feel
                  when creating a humble painting to share with you.
                                   Many Blessings...............

Reflections

Today is the first day of fall, 2012.  Another season has passed and a new one begins as we move around the circle of seasons.  Even this day is uncertain of what it wants to be.  Clouds come and go, the sun is out from behind those clouds and lights the day with the promise of warmth and a little summer.  And yet, there is a chill in the air at the same time. 

The trees are showing color and I am eager to see more of the patchwork quilt of color when I look towards the wooded forests.  The birds are quieter, days of seeing the hummingbirds from the porch will soon be gone.  The wrens that chattered endlessly this summer are no longer heard.  Large groups of birds are gathering and migration has begin. 

I am often a little melancholy with changes, it can happen with seasons, birthdays, or even a change in what I once perceived about truth, faith, love or friendships.  It happens when I hurt from the loss of a person or animal that shared time in my life. 

My solution is to get back to nature.  Go outside, inhale the fresh crisp air, feel the last rays of sun on my shoulders.  Play my flute with prayers that the next season will be gentle and healing.  And as much as I long for solitude, I must find people to spend time with.  Sharing the energy with others is powerful and good for the soul too.

Being creative during my most melancholy times is often an outlet.  Last year I wrote poems, I have never written poetry before.  From the end of spring into the summer, everything was a poem.  Then I became more content and settled with life and it all stopped.  I have only written on poem this year.  It came during another change in my life.  It woke me up in the middle of sleep and the words came out and had to be recorded. 

      Oh what must he think I am thinking......
          As we travel down this dark country road,
              My eyes are closed, my face to the wind and
                     My arms are outstretched in the darkness.
     Oh what must he think I am thinking......
            I am think I have learned to fly again.

This came one night we were coming home on our Harley Davidson Trike.  This was a change in our lives that no one saw coming.  Not even my wonderful husband or I.  It happened when I rode a Harley with my brother in Texas.  I found that it was like riding horses, something I spent most of my life enjoying.   The horses are gone now, that change that was very difficult for me.  They too were a part of my poetry last year. 

Coming home and talking to my wonderful husband we decided to go on a test drive.  The rest is history.........  We have spent time together, stealing away on a summer afternoon, headed to some wooded forest to feel the cool breeze in our faces.  We have found another tribe of friends that also ride bikes.  It has become a passion.  I find myself a little unsettled if we haven't been out for a few days.  I used to get that same feeling if I hadn't ridden horses for awhile.

Funny, my highs and lows are so extreme, no easy way for me to get through this world, no middle road.  I have felt these extremes all my life, why would it change now?  So here I am, the day of the equinox, reflecting on changes, yet again.