love an old book ...

A favorite thing for me to do on Saturday is to visit the local church second hand store. One of my favorite sections to browse besides the glass is the books. A favorite rare find is to snag an old book.

A truly old book usually has a blue or a brown hardback cover and is small enough that it fits nicely in my hand. It is still sturdy and opens itself to lie flat when you study its contents. There is no stiff awkward introduction. It is amiable like an old friend waiting for your visit.

I found such an old friend when I saw Halley's Bible Handbook for just $1. I brought it home.  It felt good in my hands.  That got me to thinking about how I favor these old books best.  You don't have to treat with care in order not to break the binding but I will be careful just because that is how I am with books.  They also make you wonder who had them before you and what treasure they found in them.  Now resting in my care I can't wait to touch and discover my own treasures.  Who needs the digital books?

fireworks 2009

It was a chilly night considering it was July! A jacket was a must and a blanket might have been nice too. Ice cream from a near by shop was eaten by some. One treat looked especially good. The outside was a waffle cone, ice cream, and what looked liked a chocolate block! Oh, but the chilly treat would have been more delicious on a hot day not a cool evening even if fireworks where the main event!

A wonderful soft yellow sunset gave way to bruised clouds and stars. Families gathered with blankets and camping chairs to take in the towns fireworks. Fireflies occupied a moment or two of an anxious little 2 year old waiting for pretties to light up the sky. It was way after her bedtime but she hung on. The adults where anxious for blankets and light jackets as the moon shone brightly. What was unbelievable was how many pups were out! Our brood of three was home in their little dens safe from noise. Oh, how they hate them booms.

Small firework shows started to pop but then the two main events began to light up the sky with ooo's, ahhh's, and delightful squeals from little tikes. Lovers snuggled close on blankets, parents and grandparents juggled a 2 year old who wanted to share the delight of pretties rain in the sky, 'Sity, Sity, look pretties!!' One child pierced the night folly with a tortured scream but as the it came to an end, clapping gave the night lights appreciation of a country's freedom fight.

Fireworks by the Lake last night, fireworks on the tube tonight, and more fireworks looking out my bedroom window tomorrow night? mmmm, priceless! Love a good fireworks!

snowy calm ...

It is Saturday and the calendar says December. The snow is flying and the temp has dipped into the teens and twenties. This Christmas is promising to be calmer and more about the home as the work is rocketing downwards. I have the last two weeks off and I am lucky to have 7 days of holiday pay for it. Then back to work to finish inventory. After that I am not sure what will happen. It doesn't look good and the fear at work is beginning to show.

I am thankful for the time off this month and will take it to make things I have been wanting to make. I am also going to spend it organizing my personal life to make it more productive. I have Christmas gifts I attend to make and I really need to some creative brainstorming for the possible job loss ahead. I have really wanted to write and feel so lacking because it has been about work and surviving at such a fast pace. That is why I am so looking forward to slowing down.

Today has been so picture perfect every time I look outside. Snow flying, homes lit up, music playing, kids making snow angles - night falls and the snow still flies...

turning fall ...

Last Saturday as I was walking, I thought that not very many trees had turned yet. What a difference a week makes. It has turned cool from the 80* I enjoyed last weekend. Fall rains too have tugged on the leaves making them fall in pools around their former home. Now more trees have turned into their golden hues. It is finally October. The sky is a very bright blue and the fields are a dry golden color. When the sun shines every thing takes on very rich tones.

Long sleeves and jeans are welcomed as the brisk air promises frost to kill the pollens and pesky bugs. However, yesterday morning I saw a woman in short shorts and flip flops picking out silk fall flower arrangements outside the local craft store. I thought oddly funny as I was wishing for a heavy coat than the light jean jacket I had thought would be just enough. Ahh, how some cannot let go of summer and lean into fall...

mrs spider ...

Ok - here is my second go around! Cutting and pasting then poof - all that I wrote was gone. grrrr...

Last week ago Saturday a spider moved into my second story window. She isn't pretty. There are two white 'eyes' on her underbelly that stare at me whenever I take a peek at her.

Last weekend she had prey. It had to be a big black ant. First, it was gooey wet and then she covered it in white web. Then it was gone. Did she drop it? Dad said she was making babies with a packed lunch to go. Ugh!

Yesterday the rains had some winds that bounced her around but she was tucked in wasn't about to fall. Yet, as the world turned green, she was gone. Did she fall? Or did she drop to safety? I have to admit I was glad that she had moved on.

Today when I peeked to see the rains outside, there she was with PREY! It seemed to be a moth. It had better not be a butterfly! No, I am sticking with a moth. The bottom portion was in white webbing but the top was wet. I took some film to capture this event, hoping to see what she did with it when she was done.

I left for about two hours and when I came back, the spider was still here but the prey was gone. What did she do with it?

Hurricane Ike is scheduled to hit here in the North this afternoon. It feels like it is here already. It is rain hard. I thought there was going to be winds. I don't think we will know for sure when Ike is here unless I pay attention to the weatherpeeps. There is a front that has been dumping rains and Ike is going to piggy back it as it moves through the armpit of the US. It will be interesting to see how Mrs. Spider stays during this.

There be four [things which are] little upon the earth, but they [are] exceeding wise:
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
~proverbs 30:24&28 some versions say lizard!

rain is for in ...

I awoke to the rain pouring and I am happy. Grey skies and rain can shield out the world and I can stay in and play house. It is soothing after many good summer hot days where you spend outside to take a time out for inner things and indoor things. It like taking a Martha Stewart day to clean and organize and no, I am not super structured or a neat freak but I do want to be better at orderliness and keeping things simple. It feels so good to nest and hibernate even if there is movement. It is movement in the right direction.

Hmmm, maybe I organization is one of my strengths and is only a bit rusty. Take a look at the thesaurus and there is patterns listed for organization! I like that thought!

Here is to staying in and having a sunny home ...
*

over the 'fence' ...

She is a smoker and sometimes she isn't herself where her speech isn't on par with her thinking. However, I truly enjoy her. She is friendly and looks out for me. She is my neighbor.

Today she was sitting out on the front step for a smoke when I came home. We talked. What was interesting was the conversation about church. What started the conversation was her asking what church I went to and how I looked nice when I go. I told her my church and I added that it was for the time being. Her comment was that it was hard to find a church these days. Then she gave me an account of a church that she went to that served coffee and they where sitting around. She said you can feel if God is there and He wasn't. I was taking it all in and brimming with questions I wanted to ask but didn't. However, I think know the answer - she was missing the reverence for God. It was gone because all the causal - the very causal that the churches have resorted to bring in the lost. I thought this was quite an interesting tidbit - a very sad tidbit.

Our conversation wandered on towards food and she offered me a cucumber and a tomato. I love fresh veggies and was very appreciative. What I really loved most was I got a peek of her apartment. Very simple but she loves the color red. She has some really nice splashes going on in her kitchen. Now I know what to paint for her! That makes me excited. Wow! What a cool way to top off my day!

hawk flights ...

The day was suppose to have rain but lucky me the sun came out this afternoon. Good timing for my Saturday walk. The blue sky was full of white fluffy clouds. Being a hot and humid day, the wind was a welcomed breeze. As I walked my last stretch home, out of the corner of my eye I saw the hawk swoop up from the grass up, up into the sky. It flapped his winds in strong slow movements and then would glide to one side then the other side. It wasn't a straight line rather a meandering path - like he was out for a stroll on whatever wind currant took him. Wouldn't it be nice to take flight like that?

I did try to see if this hawk had swooped to earth to cart of some poor little animal. Glad that there was nothing that I could see...

perfumed ...

Peonies are blooming! There are two 'bushes' of them left from a tenant that has moved on so I have adopted these beauties. One 'bush' is pink and the other is a deep burgundy. I have one of each in my home and every so often I can smell them. I took 3 in a short little mason jar for work to sit on my desk. They just amaze me. They are little round balls of petals and before your very eyes they unfurl into big puff of petals. Though they are not my favorite flower, I have come to enjoy them every Memorial Day. Love the flower your with?

mom told me not to ...

"You want to see a baby squirrel?"

Mom is pointing to a tree where there in a hole is a little squirrel coming in and out quickly. It is like his mama told him to stay put inside the comfort of home. But the squirrel is so excited about the new morning and all the new things to check out. He keeps darting back into the hole. He is afraid and curious at the same time! Loved it except no camera to keep this memory. Bummer!

5.4 ...

It is earrrrrly morning. The sun isn't even up. My bed is moving side to side waking me up. My foggy brain is already thinking. It can't be the trains that I live near. The glass is clinking and it is going on for ions! I am just lying in bed enjoying I must say this power shift! Nothing broken or mussed up. The brain was smiling thinking 'wow, what power God has!'. Clicked on the time, registering the moment and rolled over to snatch a few more zzz's...

No, I do not live in California! No, I was miles and miles from the center, Salem Il. I was sound asleep in the northern most part of the state next to it. It will be the talk for sure around the kitchen tables and water coolers. Totally wild!! Oh, I gotta call my gf who lives muuuuuuch closer to the quake!!! See, what her and her fam felt! It is something to share...

5.4 quake rocks Illinios

wild horses ...

Ahhh, spring ruffled up the horses that I get to see on my way to and from work. They were running instead of the grazing I see them do so often. And to watch a horse run is a magnificent thing to watch. I think I could watch them run all day. Or maybe it is the want inside to ride a running horse bare back - to feel the wind rush over me - to feel the strength carry me -

Ahh, to be lost on a wild horse...

wake me up, birdies!

Ahhhhhh, Spring is here and today being in the low 60*s, I made my first Saturday walk! My final Saturday walk last year was in October! I have a few rules. It must be at least hitting 60*s so I can wear my walking shorts and a tee. I have a multi purpose for these walks and one is to get my vitamin d! (aka: sun on the skin) Yeah, it was a bit chilly but the walking soon warms you up.

We have yet to get that thunderstorm with nitrogen that wakes up the grass and flowers so everything is quite matted and brown. I caught a few people out turning up dry earth over for a more dark brown wet dirt. Others were raking old leaves and twigs to the curb. I did happen to catch a retired couple sunbathing on their back porch. Yes, the man had is cap on with no shirt! Ok, I know some are quite anxious for the warm rays but wow. I know I can't talk. They made me smile. WTG!

The birds were singing. There was no way they were going to hush up. I saw 2 ugly big blackbirds catching their worms. Sorry, our blackbirds aren't as cool as the UK's that do those cool skywaves that I only get to experience vicariously through the TV. I was heading home and I swear I got a whiff of barbecue! No joke! My companion as I rounded a curve was a dry brown oak leaf. I could hear it coming up behind me and then broke ahead flipping head over stem.

What a beautiful walk!

a March beauty ...

Winter is going and Spring is coming. It is the middle march of seasons. There are still crusty snow piles in parking lots all over town. The one behind my jeep is still there so I am backing out of my parking space on edge so that I don't back into other cars. The sun has been out the last three days. The snow not lucky enough to be in a pile is gone and instead is the yellow brown grass. It doesn't seem usual if my memory serves me correctly. In the past it seems that there is a bit of green mixed in and not such a harsh dead color. Wednesday after fueling up (too numb to shed tears - might as well just stuff 50 dollar bills into the tank!), I had my jeep washed. Woo hoo, amazing to see the brillant Patriot blue shine through again! But to top that, when I parked for the day at my place last night, my eyes stopped in their tracks. I was captured by the pale purple white crocuses blooming along side the apartment house!!!! I looked to see if the black truck was parked. Shucks! The man neighbor is home. I can't take a pix of the endearing flower; they sit in front of his closed blinds.

Ahhhhhhh, crocuses - a March beauty!

a lot of fine dusting ...

I forgot to count how many snow storms we have had in the past two months - definitely over a hand full! Each snow fall is different. Sometimes it is big and fluffy. Sometimes it is small and light or it could be heavy. Sometimes it is just flakes and no ground cover which usually happens in December teasing us but not letting us have a white Christmas.

On Sunday this snow was super fine and there was a good amount of it. It was like a mini blizzard without the show stopping and keeping in that a real big blizzard will do to you. Plus, it was suppppppper cold - in the negative F*. Snow still amazes me with its variety.

I have a jeep and I love how it handles. I do not have anti lock brakes (scary) and I can pop it into 4-wheel. Deciding when to use it and when not to is a bit frustrating. However when there is a good amount of snow, I love putting it into gear and hearing or rather feeling the low crunch the tires make as they eat up the snow. Even though it has taken me a good while to have confidence, I love how my liberty baby tackles the snow.

Like I said before, I do love winter and I love my jeep but I am getting tired of winter roads. Probably because I fail to give myself enough to time to make it to work and I have been going through town because of bad roads (too much traffic, school buses, and school crossings). I do not like slippery or black ice. Had a wreak on black ice. Do not want to do have a death ride again. We also had two warm ups with a ton of rain and snow melt off causing 2 major floods here in town. It limits available roads. Then more snow and you begin to wonder if the water receded or if the ice is hiding underneath. I think they receded. Know so on my favorite back road.

Crazy though under all this snow that within a month, spring will show up. Then again we've had snow in April!

the wild flower power loomed hat ...

Ah my dear Lucia,
OOOO I am sooooo excited! I completed your new hat!!! I know I made you one for Christmas but this is a pretty wild one. Your daddy loves to put you in hats. You were wearing the one I made you last Sunday and your daddy was telling them that his sister made it for you. Your Grandma told me this and I beamed!!! I think that is what motivated me try another hat this week.

Your daddy said that you could use a green one. Well, you are in luck. I happened to have a green yarn and a green, pink, and purple yarn. I did the trim in green and the hat part is in the multi yarn and turned out longer! Opps, hard to gauge how things will work out on a loom. No matter becuase as I was thinking on it, the longer part works out better for the big loopy flower I loomed for the top! Yes, I made a six loop flower in green with the multi pom pom for the middle. Wow! I am just buzzy over this. It looks unique and cute. I think you will look sooooo coool. It is a good thing you are young and no bad or squirrelly comment can hurt you. It will be a show stopper!

I am all smiles. I can't wait to see if it fits and what the reaction will be!!!

love you
always
aunt keeper

high waters ...

We had a nice huge snow storm on New Year's. Big snow. Pretty snow - the kind that sticks on trees an inch thick making everything like a big huge winter wonderland. My Dad went out and got some really coooooool pix. I am thinking I need to get copies... They are so beautiful!

It was cooooold too. 8* was the high temp. Now that a week has gone by and a warm up happened. All that snow begun to melt making the earth very soggy. Monday going to work there was lightening spraying across the sullen skies. Monday night cames heavy thick raindrops pelting and beating everything in their path. It was freaky as the tornado watches were in implemented. We are listening to the wind. Is it coming? Looking out the window, the raindrops where huge and flashing silver as they forced themselves 100 miles an hour earthward. Where is all this water going to go??? You just knew there were going to be hign waters everywhere.

My town is a town that has a river running through it with tiny creeks running around. Where ever you go, you cross a small bridge. From past rainfalls you know where the water will collect. You know the park downtown will overflow into the grocery complex. You run through how you are going to get to work - go throught town or risk going through the country. I tried the country and then half way through, I decided to cut back into town. There was water in places I didn't know would collect. What is terrible is that the river won't crest until Thursday and here it was just Tuesday, the day after.

I made myself go through town even though it takes longer and having to deal with slow down areas around the schools make for a very hands on driving. Ugh. But the good side is to see the rivers swollen and brown. It is amazing to see first hand Nature's rhythm. I have a small remembrance back in the 80's where it was just this bad. Today I am collecting these visuals in my memory and wonder if it would ever get worse than this. What would it be like?

I am safe. My place is safe. Parents basement got wet but Mom said the eve drain away was off track... Wonder what it is like now? We always had problems with the wash room side of the basement. A human condition is going around finding out how family and friends fared. It must be like when our Bobby and Andy (family pups) wash their paws after they had a tussle just to make sure what was mussed up is put back into place...

Happy 2008

Big white puffy snowflakes began to fall last night. Candles and Christmas tree lights aglow. Me in blankets watching some movies and looming was a soft and delightful way to ring in the New Year. I do have moments of delight and joy while the gloomy numb ones sit in the dark corners. I know a bit off but I am a fighter so I am bringing it home. I will dive into all that brings my lips into a upwards curl and lights up a brilliant sparkle in my big brown eyes all the while not striving! Tall order but hey that is what living in balance means...

Here are a few good words from the Almighty...

"I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
jeremiah 29:11

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all that you do, and He will direct all of your ways."
proverbs 3:5-6

You can have many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.
proverbs19:21

The Lord says , "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
psalms 32:8

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
romans8:28

... what reassurance!!!

fierce winds ...

Wow! I awoke yesturday morning at 3:30AM to winds. I usually don't minds winds but for some reason I could not fall back to a sound sleep. Or that could be because I didn't have enough activity in my day. Whatever the case I laid there listening as the winds fingered their way over roof tiles and eaves and pounded with anger against the window panes. These winds gusted 40+ mph through out the day and through last night! The winds meanly came through every crack in my livingroom wall being it has windows and the west wall. There was no way of keeping warm but to snuggle under my burgandy red fake fur blanket.

For some reason I was ready for these winds to stop. On my trek home after church I saw two verrrrrrrrrry tall evergreens uprooted. The one was old and a bit thin for an evergreen. The other across the street from the old was also tallll but he was full and vibrant. For me I was amazed - everything but the winds where a strange quiet and stillness. There were other felled trees and broken powerlines, but no one would tend to them. You just had to make your way through another way. It was eerie. I usually don't mind the winds especially when they are way up in the tree tops. It is like feeling God sweep by and it is a comfort. But not these winds. Finally, about 6AM today, the winds finally stopped. Whew!

Matthew 8:26-27 And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!

MarK 13:27 And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

No matter how fiece the winds, I know the Master of them...

I saw Santa Claus ...

... riding his motorbike on the highway that runs through our town. Wow! I thought I wouldn't see anything like that here. Maybe California or the movies but not here. Today our big snow from the previous weekend has melted away. The highs are in reaching for 50's but it is soggy and grey. Guess Santa thought that he should get his motorcycle out for another spin before Old Man Winter blows into town again. It was a great sight - red hat covering his long white hair and his white beard blowing in the wind. He had a brown leather coat keeping him snug and warm. He didn't forget his red pants and black boots! It is a bummer that I left my camera at home. Anyways I would have to be a quick shot and known ahead of time.

Now why would a girl who doesn't believe in the commercializm of this holiday get a kick over a man wearing a santa suit while motorbiking? 'Cause it ain't normal and I love it when I see someone enjoy life. Pretty great to see him all decked in red on such a grey, grey day! Hats off too to those who put wreaths on their vehicles and wear santa hats while shopping. I could not do it but you make me smile. thank you!