Category Archives: Uncategorized

One Fine Day

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Waking up in Maine….
How could one day hold so much good?


Kathie’s (my SIL) old VW Bug from her college days


A walk on Mackworth Island


A pause to talk…


a stop at the local Farmer’s Market

A clam chowder lunch at:

~     ~     ~


Later…
friends had me up to their place for
a lobstah bake (that’s seaweed with it)


on top of the lobster pile up picked-that-day corn,
potatoes, onions, eggs,
and…


clams on top!

delightful family from my church who are also visiting their family in Maine


Ending the day with the “chimney” fire – a rotten log placed upright on the fire

Going, Going

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I’m headed to Portland, OR & the famous Powell’s Books.
It’s the largest independent used and new bookstore in the world.
One entire city block.
Here is a picture of just one aisle.


I am going to my first (real) book reading: Kathleen Norris!

I will see a lovely friend…

and have a heart to heart with my cousin
about her journey converting to Judaism…

Then I’m zipping up to visit my Seattle kids and perhaps
read a book to my yet-to-be-born grandson, Noah.
I hope he kicks a little…

After which, I pray Hurricane Kyle goes away
so I can enjoy this tranquil garden in Maine
at the beautiful home my sister-in-law and brother have made.

And when one visits Maine, you know what one eats, don’t you?

My friend who happens to be married to my brother
has promised lots of walks.
I plan to take copious photographs.


New England in the fall!

I used to stay home when my guys went hunting, heh heh heh…

Sweet Gratitude

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It’s my birthday!
There seems to be a slew of September birthdays.

If I died today, I would have no complaint.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
His mercies are new every morning.
Great is Thy faithfulness.

Joy is my wine,
Love is my food,
Sweet gratitude the air I breathe.

Simple Pleasures in September

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Everyone in the UK has an electric kettle. 
I love mine.
LOVE it.


~  garden produce

~ Minnesota Public Radio
I’m thirsty for good music.  Solid joy.
Eager to deepen my knowledge of classical music.
I’ve listened to several classical “channels” on Windows Media Player.
But.  One ends up hearing the same repertoire over and over.
As if Pachelbel didn’t compose anything but the Canon in D.
This morning I was paralyzed with delight by:

~  Vaughan Williams’ Five Variants of Dives & Lazarus
(New fact: VW’s first name, Ralph, is pronounced Rafe.
Heard it earlier this week, confirmed this morning.)
This music will gnaw into the edges of your soul, then come back with salve.
We sing Psalm 22 to this tune.
Also “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.”
The best way to spend 11 minutes and 99 cents.
I beg you–at least–listen to the preview.

Well.  After listening to it three times, I’m quite sure this is
On The List of my Funeral Music.
This music undoes me.


~ Boxes (and boxes!) of these Ikea glass sets for our church’s Wedding Closet.
The CA bride and groom didn’t want these after their reception. 
My middle name is Scavenger.
These puppies rode with me in the back seat on the way home.

How Do You Hug?

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I’m still processing our trip to Southern California.  It was both a wedding celebration and a mini family reunion, including the colorful Croatian characters (she said fondly) who are our family-by-extension. 

There were hugs in abundance.

And I was always a bit off, don’t you know.  Out of sync. 

When I hug, I head straight for the shoulder.

But their first destination is the cheek, for the preliminary kiss just before the hug.

It made me think.

How many styles of hugs are there? (Caveat: I’m strictly talking about hugs between friends, not between lovers.)

•  The man hug – with the double triple pat on the back.

•  The handshake/hug which perhaps starts as a handshake and ends as a hug.

•  The bear hug.

•  The side hug.

•  The cheek kiss/hug.

•  The double cheek kiss/hug.  Vive la France!

•  The air kiss/hug.

•  The litle peck kiss/hug. 

Sooooo — how do you hug?

 
A hug is like a boomerang – you get it back right away.
~ Bill Keane

Hugs are the universal medicine.

~ Author unknown

Funny story:  years ago, some friends were leaving on a trip and as Jan and I hugged each other, I–for some odd reason–got my wires crossed and kissed her.  On the eye.  Whatever sadness we had at parting evaporated into giggles.

Listening, Really

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On the importance of listening:

“Think of a person you know who tends to interrupt others.  This person is not a good listener.  His or her mind processes what it takes in and anticipates what the person speaking might say.  This behavior is about impatience, insecurity, arrogance and a lack of caring.  It is about an absence of openness, in the sense of being truly receptive to what one is listening to.”

On his dislike of music on headphones:

“But the real reason I don’t use personal audio stereo equipment is because I do not need it.  My life in music as someone who grew up with it, continues to listen to it with great care and joy, has given me a headful of melodies that surge forth unbidden.  They resonate in my mind and in my ears; they float away only to be replaced by others.  A life in music can do this and you can be a part of it.”

Both quotes by Fred Plotkin in Classical Music 101

These passages captured my attention this past weekend. 

The second quote made me wonder: how often do we (individually or as a culture) sing in our daily lives?  We had coffee with an old, dear friend who told us about his life-changing trips to South Africa.  He talked about how musical their culture was, how spontaneous outbreaks of singing occurred regularly.  When you listen with headphones (and I do) the aspect of community is removed from the listening experience.  Individualism wins and connectedness loses.  At the wedding reception in California, the DJ played old songs; what fun to lean in to the person next to you and croon the song together.  There is power in singing together.

I think that is why the singing at our church is so potent: everyone sings with gusto and singing together is better than singing alone.

When is the last time you sang aloud?

*photo is my mom’s brother Gordon and my husband Curt talking and listening at a rendezvous last year

Music Lovers, Listen Up!

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Have you heard of Magnatune.com?  There is a wealth of independent music on this site.  And get this: you can listen to it for free.  I haven’t the time to explore all the details, but I really like what I’ve heard. 

I know a handful of independent musicians and the struggle it is for them to get paid for their efforts.  So I’m delighted that when I purchase a CD to download, the musician gets 50% of the money I’ve spent. 

There is a Free Song-of-the-Day you can download, if you like.

One CD I’m playing often – Dusty Porch by John Williams. Some great acoustic guitar picking, soft and just a touch sassy.  Local friends – it sounds like it could be Darrell or Craig playing.

So if you get a chance to explore magnatune.com let me know what you like, okay?  Please?  Thanks.