A new life
A new granddaughter
the circle getting larger
What a blessing to us all







 

 

 

Today it begins
The Christmas whirlwind
2 weeks of family
all gathered together
and my daughter is due anytime now
to give birth to little Tuula
plans...?....who can make plans
with all this going on
Joy
that is what is going on here
pure joy
Oh Lord



Decorating and preparing
takes on a different flavor
when there are children involved
So I have my favorite Christmas hymns and carols
blasting away as I prepare the way
 

 

 

I'm actually loving all this chaos
I am listening to Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel
and my heart is just about bursting
from nostalgia and love
nostalgia for the family that is no longer here
and love
for God with Us

Now to bake cookies
...

Happy birthday Susie Sunshine...
like Mrs. Calabash,
-wherever you are
The knees weak
the ticker palpating
pills lined up on the kitchen counter.
I saw you this morning
through the fog of sleep
a sweet memory that had taste

My goodness, my first grandchild is 7 today
and so far away in california
I called her early this morning to wish her Happy Birthday
and the first thing she said was
Happy birthday tomorrow Grandma!
A good heart
What more could a grandma ask for.....
a beautiful child with a loving
good heart
......two other beautiful grandchildren
and two more on the way!! that's what
Little Tuula is due on Christmas
yes, you read that right....Tuula
My children could take the prize in unusual names!
I wanted to be a grandma so badly
put it on my 25 list of things I desired...
boy oh boy....I was heard
By March...we will have 5

Little Walter is due March 1st
The wheel of life is turning
dizzying at times
..oh that could be my new blood pressure meds too!
Life is good

I have a date with my mom today
....she's invited me to her senior group's luncheon
turkey and all the trimmings
great

and it will be great
She has reminded me that soon I will be 63
.....and that definitely qualifies me for the luncheon
with friends like her.....

Though I remember back to my younger days
when I was the youngest woman at our church's women's group
I was 26 and the others were into their 70's,80's and beyond
and they used to share stories about how when a new women would arrive
at their senior groups......the enemy
Most would grab hold of their husbands
and when a new man would join the group
 the single ones would make fools out of themselves
over a new man

and the senior women would dedicate their lives to
squashing the competition of a new....
especially an attractive... younger new woman
whoa
I think I will be the youngest one today
and I'm not decrepit looking
This should be an interesting time to test the stories of those long- gone church senior women
Maybe I'll skip the red lipstick
;)

Oh give thanks unto the Lord
for He is good
and His mercy endureth forever

A childhood prayer
that comforts

I hope soon to be back blogging

..but have enjoyed reading the posts of all my friends
I am thankful for all of you

especially those who love and care for animals
those gifts from God

...bless those who care for the sheep...especially orphaned lambs
the dogs..especially the hurt the neglected the abused
and for those who have taught me to love the goats
and those who have shared the antics of their adorable kittens
....your kindness toward them warms the earth
and my heart


and Brian thanks for having such a big heart for the kids
that struggle through life
you are a beacon in darkness
thank you for this

Happy Thanksgiving to all


 

google images 

crumbling threshold
the upright broom bids us in
the dirt floor upswept

I love this little poem

Broom

It starts
out so well
Its fresh
gold straws
cut square
Flared wide

But so often
ends otherwise,
With weary
wan bristles
all stubbled
to one side

...valerie worth, poet

I relate to the broom

It is time
sweet kitty

Honeybun....she named you
....what her father used to call her

So deep is my sadness
...so short a life
...so short a time for you knowing my mother's love and need of you

This loss ....
dipping into her bank account of loss
for you
and suffering them all
all over again

Just a kitty
but oh so much more

We will be with you until the end
you are loved and cherished
Know that soft, furry one

 

My two old ladies

They tolerate each other

they are united in hating Boo

 

 



He's too fast and too playful for them

 

Ms. Kitty' O'Shea has a bit of arthritis

and Ms. Abigail is a recovering feral

she gets spooked by everything

So today seeing them together on the stairs

was a smile moment

How did Ms. Kitty ever get up those stairs

Determination

I saw her staring up the stairs this morning

dreaming of the times when she was queen of the night

sneaking up on the bed and snuggling in for the night

but those days are long gone and Abigail has taken her place

even bringing us toys to wake up to

 

I have been away in Galena since Monday

and I think the old gal has actually missed me

I'll bet she heard me tell my mother that there are days

I say to myself.....

just do it....and I do

no matter what

 

but I can't sustain it long

Ms. Kitty O' Shea

can't either

she's back under the dining room table

I can sympathize

 

 

 

  Guess who's flying in today for a visit?

 

yippee

 

 

good thing they missed this storm last night

 

A robin has built her nest at the end of a branch

that leans over the driveway

I watched her branch bounce and weave in the wind

and the rain pounding over her

Oh I was so worried

My husband thinks I worry over goofy things

she's a robin...she's been through this before

I am happy to say that mom and eggs

are doing fine this morning

....now to go shopping

 

 

 

 

 

I was alone at the counsel ring
the quilters...well they never leave their fabrics
and the other students
the glass , wood and paper cutters
man, they are as intense at the writers
But I was not feeling it this time at workshop
I needed some nature
some sunset
some alone time
So I went to cliff and sat
and watched
It was wonderful
...


 

 

 

 

 

 

I was about 30 feet above the lake
and all I heard were the loons
and the quiet motor of a fishing boat
it was so peaceful
Our group was small...nine of us
and only one new one
...it was a nice class
...not much writing came out of it
but some new insights arose from writing about personal stuff
 they always make you dig there those instructors....
I wrote about my Mexican grandfather
.....and my old neighbor Phyllis
I also managed to birth two pretty good haiku
..all in all a nice week

But the heck of thing happened
A woman tripped on the path, on the ascarpment
and went flying head first over the cliff
and fell 30 feet, hitting the side of the cliff half way down
She had been walking with her husband

I am ashamed to say..that is when my writer's brain went into overdrive
...but I won't speak of that..let's just say that I watch too much TV
concerning crime...

She was stabalized and helicoptered to GreenBay...it was surreal watching the rescue
as it got darker and darker
...They told us she had a broken neck,back,leg and ankle
and 80% brusing of her body...the 15ft break in her fall saved her life
or she would have hit pure limestone
....Needless to say it put a cloud over the rest of the week
...
At our last night, when we all do a show and tell of sorts
I read a funny story..the one about Phyllis
not the grandfather one
that one gets put in a drawer for my kids to find when I'm gone
....and they can't ask questions

know what I mean?


 

 

Little Isla didn't make it into this world
but one year later we remember her
remember the struggle
the pain
the heartache
the letting go
the love

if only every child was as wanted
It is raining today
yes it is raining today
and I remember your little fingers and toes
remember holding you
and whispering
to you
that I loved you
and would see you again

thats what faith does
it comforts

 

It's that time again
...a runaway
...a seeking sanctuary getaway
...a retreat
to The Clearing
in Ellison Bay, Wisc
We'll be looking at
W.S.Merwin
....last time it was Fitzgerald in this class
..Can't wait to see Decaprio as the Gatsby
....Can't wait to see if I have any writing in me
....haven't written since Isla Maeve
left us
....death is a nasty visitor sometimes
and sometimes a welcome guest
either way
death is always noticed
...and I have tried hard this year
to ignore it
afraid the darkness I felt inside
..how this effected all of the family
would spill out and I would ...
well, I can't tell you what I would write
but it wouldn't be interesting to anyone
..just cathartic
...and that isn't storytelling
So ..we'll see..
The teacher is a wonderful Buddhist
God sends you what you need, I think
...this should be a make or break it week
...but it will be fun
Lake Michigan sunsets
..always cheer my being
bye for now
...and just to let you know
....the news I have been praying for
has come
...now we'll just have to wait
9 months

I love beautiful little poems







 

image
chester higgins jr.




MAGNIFYING GLASS


SMALL GRAINS
IN A STONE
GROW EDGES
THAT TWINKLE

THE SMOOTH
MOTH'S WING
SPROUTS FEATHERS
LIKE SHINGLES;

MY THUMB
IS WRAPPED
IN RICH
SATIN WRINKLES

-valerie worth

 

yep, I might just have to go there
...just look at that girl pose...
she's a natural
and her brother...a goofiss
The blondie is a friend visiting from Chicago

Laguna beach and a bathing suit
oh heavens
I haven't worn a bathing suit in 5 years
..but that's the great thing about grandkids
they expect you to look old
...they love you
the way you are
bless them

I love to count my blessings
not look at what I don't have
..makes life a joy
and I love joy

yes, I need to go to the warm climate of California
...sooner than later
I need some little arms welcoming me
and telling me all about what is going on in their lives
.....

I was needed at my daughter's
opportunity for some Finn and grandma time
Most of the time it rained and was chilly
...opportunity for rainboots and an umbrella

 

But Grandma.....I like them both
and I want my superhero umbrella
 

This is the sweetest boy on earth
and he makes his Grandma
verklempt
as he looks out the window
at his tree....Mr.Ebbersberger
....it's a long story...but that is the tree's name
and we hug it everytime we are together
...seems his parents aren't into the spirit of this relationship
hmph

 

It's still raining Grandma!
can we walk to school
argh


 

Finally his mama decides that we will drive
and he decides his red sneakers are the best choice

 

After a long day at preschool, lunch and a little playing
he crashes....
and I just watch him
a miracle
as all children are
He took a bath too this afternoon
used his papa's sage and sandlewood soap
so he can smell like his Papa
 

Today we made a birdhouse out of a milk carton
 

and hung the wool bird nesting stuff ball

played a little
find me Grandma

bird watched

 

and before we came inside for lunch

I took a picture of him next to Mr. Ebersberger
.....a tree I once believed was part of the Indian reservation
now gone

Finally a goodbye at the door
see you next week