Thank Goodness

Thank goodness that life is always changing..........otherwise I would not have gotten up early today to buy tickets to see the Roman Col0sseum and up early yesterday to buy tickets to fly to Salt Lake for my grandbaby's baby shower.

Same Trail

When you have a blog about how everything is always changing, you notice a trail in your life that has not changed. Bernie and I found the Weldon Spring Hiking Trail in about 1985. We used to take the kids hiking there. We would start at the beginning and walk out to the bluffs over the Missouri River. We would start at the end and go down to the bridge to enjoy the creek. That was about how far Sandi could go. Bernie says that she would do goofy things to distract everyone when she started getting tired and needed to turn around. Sound like Sandi? Probably. When I walked this trail recently I saw parents with small children doing the same trek that we did with our kids. There is one new bridge on the trail, but, other than that, the trail is pretty much as it has always been. Jeff and Stacie were the first to walk the whole trail with Bernie. That was quite an accomplishment for them --- a little over five miles (some of it is steep hills) at about 10 years old. Do either of you remember the accomplishment of being the first to walk the whole trail? Ben says that when he thinks of going hiking he still thinks of this trail as the place to go. One Saturday I took the Daniel Boone Sixth Graders (that wanted to go) on the trail. I don't think I even had a "release form" back in those days. Now, there is something that has changed: teachers don't do anything without a release form nowdays. The name of the trail has changed. In 2004 when they were celebrating the 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark they changed the name to the Lewis and Clark Trail. The part we do is called the Lewis Trail. The trail that includes the longer loop is called the Clark Trail. I was on the trail one day in May right after the Bicentennial Celebration. I found a big landmark they erected on the trail explaining that the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped here. It included a Clark Journal Entry dated May 22, 1804. I was reading the Journal Entry on May 22, 2005. Kinda fun. Life is always changing. Other people had the little kids on the trail this time. Others had their dog with them on the trail. This trail is a constant in the 29 years that Bernie and I have lived in St. Charles County. It's a funny feeling when I am in the process of writing a blog about how things are always changing and I find a trail that has not changed much at all.

Useless

What makes a person feel useless? Is it when Dad is 87 years old and feels so lousy that he can't do much anymore? Is it when I am 57 years old and don't go teach little chilren anymore and my grown children don't "need" me anymore?
When are we really useless? Is it when we can't enjoy the air on our face in the morning or can't see the three quarter moon or the early morning stars? Is it when we can't use Google to look up exactly what the "Arab World" means or Rick Steves' Italy to find out about Siena?
What really makes a person useless?

The First Day of Spring

The beds around our house are spectacular this morning. Bernie hired Dex and Spencer to help him make the beds clean and beautiful. What a pleasant sight when you look out the window on the first day of spring.

I got out my jounal labeled "Ideas for Gardens 2008". What I have learned since 2008 is how overwhelming our beds are to me. 2011 will be a year to enjoy what is here: the plants that are tough enough to survive the overwhelmingness of nature here in Country Oaks.

Taking in a morning walk,
watching the sun rise on the day when there are equal hours of daylight and dark,
feasting my eyes on these beautiful garden beds when I return home,
Feeling a part of all that surrounds me.
The first day of spring.

Running

I still like to run. I wonder what it is about my body that makes me like to run. Today it was 50 degrees, partly cloudy, a chilly wind, bare Missouri trees.........thank goodness the running was fun. The rest was kinda blah.

Take a Day for Myself

"Take a day for yourself" was frequent advice in magazines. I would read the advice and think it was a good idea. Today I followed the advice and took a day for myself. I'm making the transition to a less busy busy busy life. Life is changing.

They did not hear, "Mom is quilting"

Quilting and needlework..........another homemaking skill that has a history for me. In the early 70s we did do some stitching. Mom was doing cross stitch. Sharon was doing counted cross stitch. I was doing what we called crewel embroidery. Needlework in the evenings was kinda fun. I guess we did that before there was e-mail, facebook, and blogging to do in the evenings. We've pulled out mom's blocks and are getting them made into quilts. There are still ladies around Washington that quilt.

Bernie's mom quilted. Grandma Blumer went to St. Peters Church to be a part of the quilting group that is still quilting and is doing some of the quilts for Mom. Grandma Beasley quilted, but, I get the sense that she quilted more out of necessity. Mom has quilts that she thinks belonged to Grandma Beasley but Mom thinks Grandma gave them to her to "keep you kids warm".

I am still not quilting, but, I am learning the basics of the craft by helping Mom get these blocks made into quilts. It is quite a mathematical, artistic, and passionate hobby. I admire the beauty and creativity of the quilts I am encountering as I learn the intricacies behind the final products.

The Answer is: 2 hours

As I spent two hours cleaning the house I realized there was a #4 with yesterday's post.

#4 reason our kids did not hear me say, "I'm going to clean the house today" --- Bernie and I had our latest plan for trying to get the kids to participate in "We're going to keep the house clean".

Transitions.........life is always changing...........it's nice to have a beautiful sunrise and a smile on my face. Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

"I'm going to clean the house today."

Yesterday I talked about our kids being grown, on their own. As they reflect on their childhood, I don't think they often heard their mom say "I'm going to clean the house today"

In my retirement, I have spent time reflecting on why this is true.
Is it #1? In the 70s, when I was starting out as a "grown up", we young, ego filled women figured that "cleaning the house" was not what we were going to do.
Is it #2? When I was growing up, my mom worked during the day and did the house jobs during her evenings. I suppose that is what I was on course to do, except that I drove kids to games and practices and graded papers in the evening instead of doing the house jobs.
Is it #3? I never developed the "attention span" to spend the day cleaning the house. I would allow myself to get distracted to do other more enjoyable tasks: cook, run, read, talk to Bernie, go on an outing, talk on the phone, play a game of kickball with the kids, etc. etc. etc.

I'm going to clean the house today. It is 8:36AM. I wonder how long my "attention span" will last today. I'll keep you "posted".

Our Kids Are Grown!!

In the photo for today's post you see that Ben and his dad are getting the roof top carrier situated for Ben's first "on his own" vacation. Talk about TRANSITIONS......our kids are all grown, on their own, living their lives. How did that happen?

March 2011

Life is always changing. Retirement has given me a chance to embrace the changes and transitions of my life.