How much are you worth?

If you were ever waaaayyyy up an apple tree, where you had been carefully pruning with clippers and shears and pruning saws , and under you was a very nice aluminum garagae sale ladder with just a slight twist when you push off hard on the top step as you are trying to saw through a knothole...and it really gives you a scare as it tips away from your scrabbling feet...has anyone else wondered how long it would be before your spouse came looking for your body? Or came to rescue you at the top of the tree as you sat forlornly on an upper branch Y.Of course, the sun is shining, the quail are hooting in the field, the cat is staring at you from the neighboring Ash tree, wondering perhaps what exotic turkey that is in the apple tree.
It occured to me, it might be quite some time. After all, the Daytona 500 was on the television, honey....and really I was just about to come check on you...really honey-bunch...I would have come ...really.

The first week

The first week of 2010 has flown by. I finished Kellyn's baby quilt, only 3 months late. Im cleaning out the office. I spent a few hours remembering the past while going through old scrapbooks and collections.Im trying to eat right. I just finished a great although somewhat grim book by Tim Gatreaux entitled The Clearing.Very good writing.We celebrated a birthday for Irvs 70th, a ping-pong party, a goodbye party and watched so many football games my eyes are crossed. The exercise thing is NOT going so well.
The garage constuction is proceeding despite the freezing weather. Rod and I are very excited about that. It was looking like a mud bath outside for a bit.
We are trying hard this year to bring the positive to the forefront, and leave the negative behind.

I really am...

The agony of Christmas is almost past. But that's another thought. Time for the New Year and its resolutions. I was cleaning my house (well, a small corner of it) and thought of the new year.
This year, 2010, I really am going to....
1) Have that Garage sale and get rid of all the knickknacks I dont ever take out.
2) Write a chapter or two of those books spinning in my head
3) Plan that trip to France and Italy Im going to take someday
4) Read all the books in my stack
5) And increase my exercise ( this will be easy as going from zero to one minute worth counts!)
6)Finish some of the sewing/quilting projects that are piling up!
7) Plan the Orchard
8) Talk Wanda in to letting me take paino lessons on her new piano!!
9) Send out those notes to poeple I think of all the time but never quite dial up
10) Visit the beach at least twice

And you????

Sad Santa

Sorry folks its been awhile. Not that I didnt want to "talk" to you but sometimes sorting it all out just takes too much energy. Anyway, today's topic is Santa.
I personally witnessed a fairly sad Santa the other day. It was hilarious.We watched as  the 299th kid was plugged onto Santa's lap, by the Elf. The Elf who dangled candy canes in front of the kids nose then ripped it away and stuck the kid on Santa's lap.
They all screamed!!The kids that is. I think Santa wanted to scream too. He wasn't smiling. He wasnt Ho Ho ing. Nada. Nothing. A grim line where his smile should be, right above where the itchy white fake polyester looking beard was perched.
Our grand nephew did really well in line, dangling his legs over his Dad's shoulders and running his candy cane gooped fingers in Dad's hair. He was calm. Composed. Didn't look a bit worried like all the kids in front of him in line. Even the 8 year old looking kids were looking dubious. The one little girl, she outright howled. I admit it. I laughed like a hyena. It was funny. All those parents paid 10 bucks to have their lovely and sweet children photographed with  the man of Christmas, bringer of secret stuff, man of wrapped goodies and to whom they have written their most secretest desires and mailed to the North pole for his eyes only. But in person.... The Masked Red man just didnt fit the billing. He was fat, and fake, and furry. Ick.And some lady dressed in an Elf costume kept taking candy away. Geez!

2012

Lots of hype out there with Dan Brown's new book coming out. How the Mayans supposedly think 2012 is the end, etc. and all the other speculators. So, I thought to myself..what if? I suppose with a humongy asteroid or some crazy person with a nuclear weapon its possible life could change radically very fast. I figure if that happened we wouldnt live through it anyway. Or if we did, it wouldnt be for long what with the air and water contamination. So, what do I do if this is it??? Enjoy every day. Try harder to enjoy the people we are with, send love to those we cant be next to but love. Share hope and kindness.Seek to improve the human condition?? Expand the mind to reach out and send good vibrations...hmmmm. Sit back with a glass of wine and ...enjoy the sunset.

End of Summer

Summer days are shortening. Evening light slips into the backyard much earlier. The sun sets noticeably farther south than a few weeks ago. It all seems sudden despite the constant subtle changes. The leaves are getting brittle and rustling but havent begun to fall. It makes me ponder the loveliness of an evening on the back deck, overlooking the field, perusing the softening crest of the nearby mountains.Blues and greys steal down the upper slopes and darken to emerald carpets and golden pastures. It's too far to see details of deer but close enough to see clumps of trees and fissures.
These gentle hours remind me of another favorite place. My friends back yard. They live on an acre or 2 of land bought many years ago from an aging couple who gardened. Its no longer a manicured area but a wild and delightful estate.My friend has tucked bulbs and woodland flowers into more traditional settings. We see  ferns or a trillium peeking out between azaleas and rhododendrens, ducks and brilliant blue jays streaking through the cherry tree, squirrels chittering over the pond...a paradise found. And lazing on a chair , chatting with her, in this place, is one of my favorite things.
So sitting in my own chair of a an early fall evening overlooking natures artistry, brings to mind soft reminders of many delightful times spent looking out at dusty pink coneflowers and discussing girl things....good times.

Fresh Air

We are about to embark upon another of our short camping trips. We take the new trailer, named "Puppy" and head for various lakes and camping sites. We stuff the down comforter and a bunch of food in and go. It must be leaving all the chores and cleaning at home thats adds that special flavor. The Fresh air tops the list. Star gazing. Bird spotting. The lap of water on the lakeshore. Reading. (Napping says Rod). AAaahhh!