Last night I was boarding a cruise, but then immediately jumped to a mushy green golf course where the other passengers were congregating. Among them happened to be my apiarist friends. Parbara was reading a teen lit book which I borrowed. To my dismay, it was really an Italian cookbook. I desperately searched for a recipe so I could return the unwanted tome. In the meantime, I lost the jacket to the book and stumbled upon a woman named, “Felicity.” She was a character in the book I had just finished in my waking world. The poor thing needed a cup of coffee, so I went to get one for her. Unfortunately, I did not know how to operate the espresso machine, nor find the proper cups. I asked an elderly gentleman for help, only to see an entire round table of farmers sitting in a corner. They were at a convention.

I didn’t and couldn’t solve any problems. I was desperately trying to waken and get off of the cruise/golf course/convention site.

I have got to get to take a real vacation soon.

Just wishing I had some Lucky Charms to consume rather than on my bracelet today!

The thought occurred to me yesterday, as I laboriously made my way from the driveway to the front door, “Why do I have a sidewalk?”

Every shovel length of snow required three to four “layer” passes to get to the concrete. After the third step up to the porch, I thought about how lucky the FedEx delivery person was. I had just cleared a narrow path for him, and probably him alone. Friends use the back porch or walk through the garage to enter. Amazon has taken to the driveway or back porch on occasion. I don’t think any Jehovah’s or Mormons will be out until summer, so they won’t benefit from my labors either. Therefore, I promptly renewed my efforts and took to the back of the house where the hot tub sits. Now here was a walkway that would get far more use!

As short a jaunt as it is, it took me far longer to free from the weight of the spring snows than it did to liberate the front door. However, the benefits were felt within hours of my endeavor.

I’m just fortunate to have this problem.

Or in this case, back on the snowplow. We played, “Little House on the Prairie,” yesterday, weathering the fourth largest storm in Denver as we watched golf and I did my “fancy work.” Of course, after staying home for a year, the advice from transportation officials to, “stay home,” was probably redundant.

My sewing skills have become renewed in the last month as I work to finish a few old embroidery projects I started approximately twenty years ago. Being sequestered can have positive outcomes other than sore muscles and an aching back. Baking also comes into play. Cleaning rarely does.

As the snow melts from the windows and quickly dissipates on the roads once that brilliant orb begins its melting task, I know the world will once again be crystalline and sparkling, clean and new. I do not always look forward to Spring and Chaucer’s observed cruelty of it, but this year, I am ready for it. (Mostly because I fertilized the trees and shrubs pre-storm!)

Enough. Off to dig out.

Spring

BY GERARD MANLEY HOPKINSNothing is so beautiful as Spring –         
   When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;         
   Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush         
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring         
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
   The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush         
   The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush         
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.         

What is all this juice and all this joy?         
   A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden. – Have, get, before it cloy,         
   Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,         
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,         
   Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.       

This may not be the best way to tell the story, but who cares?

It was summer. We always kept the butter in the cupboard. Refrigerate it? Not necessary, and really, why do we do it now? Anyway….it was summer!

The butter was apparently sufficiently melted, aka, a puddle on the dish in the cupboard. I reached over my mother’s head to get it as I set the table. I’m sure my clumsiness (my sister always called me “Grace”) resulted in that dish landing right on my mothers’ head, melted butter dripping down her face. I was aghast.

My mother was fairly nonchalant. No chastisement after the initial shock and wiping butter off of her face and a dish off her head. She obviously assessed my horror at having committed such a faux pas. It was just an accident we cleaned up. I can still picture the moment.

She’s not here to dispute that incident, and probably wouldn’t have remembered it as we four children did so many idiotic things. I learned a lot about being a parent in that one episode. Some things just aren’t worth getting upset about.

My mom passed away peacefully this past weekend. She lived her life valiantly, living with MS and without complaint. I am humbled having had such an amazing woman as my very own mother and inspiration in life. You can pray to her and ask for her intercession with the Lord as I am convinced she took the direct route to heaven.

Thank you, Maryann.

Today I was entertained by my guest blogger’s creative genius and cheerful perspective, and I didn’t even require his assistance in fixing a problem with my site or my computer! Ah, yes. Witticism is genetic. I share it with you for your enjoyment.

Security Questionnaires!

​Working in the world of technology with fast-paced buttons and gizmos, it can sometimes be nice to take a step back. That is why I always love answering those security questions on websites that password-protect your information! 

​Today, I got to remember the color of my first car, my sister’s middle name, and even the name of my favorite pet! 

​Truly, this minor memory examination in the middle of my day gives me inspiration to move forward!

​-Pen

When we chose “Year of the Penguin,” it wasn’t because we love sub-zero weather. (-32 at my mother’s on Tuesday!) Or when the “Camel Year” came into play, we weren’t hoping for a dearth of person-to-person encounters. We issue an official apology and promise to go with something perhaps a little lighter in tone next year. Possibly the “Year of Diamond Jewelry” will catch on?

Unfortunately, we cannot change themes in mid-stream. Just one of those tricky policies we cannot get around. We shall continue to waddle through this year, as always, making the best of what we have, recalling that even penguins have their summer.

(The sub-theme will remain “lemons” on the front porch, for all of you devotees. My revamped dresser hasn’t succumbed to the environmental changes yet.)

Those of us receiving ashes in the “old world,” will recall the many forms of the cross marked on our foreheads. Sometimes faint, sometimes bold Sharpie signs, but always with the reminder that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Admittedly, last Lent was more sacrifice for all of us than we expected, so we have the opportunity to be even more thoughtful this year. However, to keep us from being overwhelmed in our contemplation, my sister offers this advice, to which I apparently adhere year round.

Let us make this a meaningful Lent, concentrating on those who matter!

Rolling power outages throughout the Midwest…ours came at 7 am this morning. I guess the house was warm enough and it was time to get out of bed? I slogged to the kitchen where my sister sat in darkness with a candle lit, a half-made pot of coffee, and her phone as the only connection to the world. We sat in thoughtfulness, making our plans for Lent on this Fat Tuesday. (We really didn’t, but we should have.)

No, we watched the news on my sis’s phone. The weather forecaster was rather humorous, chastising drivers for their speed and impatience as they cross the bridges in Omaha and cause back-ups and accidents. We’re convinced he was a former elementary school teacher, wagging his finger at the viewers.

The lights returned, we rectified the tripped circuit breaker, finished brewing the coffee, and are heading out to meet our mother, warming her with our presence. (I’m sure that’s what we’re doing.) Sending warm thoughts to all!

Truly, I can’t remember the last time it was this chilly, though I’m quite sure I’ve lived through it. Thinking about being stranded on the road in these conditions gave me pause, but then I brought to mind a “tip” from a generous contributor of this post. The APB sent this to me, and if I need to use it, look for a text coming at you!

They’re is you’re tip for the day.