Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Monday, September 22, 2014

Closing Another Chapter

The cool winds are blowing, a new season is upon us, and I am doing OK.

It was a magnificent summer with wonderful sunny days, pleasant temperatures and almost enough rain to water my plants and keep them healthy.  I was so grateful for all the beautiful days that we had and all the blessings that it brought. 

There was flower power in May.



I started out choosing the colors that would surround me.  I always tend to select the purples, salmons and whites, but this year, more reds found their way into my gardens.

I was so relieved to see that even though we lost more than a few trees last winter because of the horrendous weather, my woods still look lush and beautiful.  Everything has its time and as with life, new will replace the old.



In June, the family all got together and we went crazy.

Photo


In July, we visited friends and enjoyed sitting on their porch watching the sun come down on the lake.


At home, the local Shakespeare company came to town and presented Twelfth Night, performed with a Johnny Cash-like character and some music from from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly thrown in the mix.  It was interesting and surprisingly fun.  Ardent fans of the Bard of Avon might have been offended, but I loved it.  Willie reinvented! 



One of the proudest moments of my life came in August when my 14 year old grandson was chosen to throw out the first ball at a Philadelphia Phillies game.   He showed no nerves, but his grandmother was shaking all over.  He was good luck for the team, as the last place Phillies won that night. 


August was harvest time and boy, did my tomato plants produce! Most days, I could pick at least 25 large, beautiful fruit. They were and are delish, but there comes a point where your acid intake makes your innards rebel. Friends, family and the local food bank benefited from my stomach problems.


During the summer, we had our semi-feral cat (Miss Circle) guarding our gardens (and the finch feeder).  She does not think the birds will see her.

 
 
And then three new baby kittens came out of the woods led by their tramp of a mother. (We found homes for all, except the mom who we could not catch).
 
 



We never got away this year to exotic resorts, nor did we travel to exciting cities.  We stayed mostly at home enjoying the company of people we love and savoring these moments in our lives.  It was comfortable.  

This summer was a gift and I just love living in the green hills and valleys of Pennsylvania.  I look forward to the next season and will be fine until winter arrives.  If it is anything like last year, I hope to be out of here in a quick minute.  There is no place like home, when things are good.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Seasons Greetings

Shopping done, house decorated, presents wrapped, cards sent and I am doing OK.

I have been busy and in a few days my daughter and her family from California will be visiting.  I am extremely blessed to have all of my children and their families with me during this happy season.  We will laugh, share food, (even tofu) and stories and be grateful for all we have been given.  We will also be crazy (like most families) and if things go wrong, we will all find the fun in it - eventually.

I wish you all the happiness that the holidays can bring.  No matter what is happening in your life at this time, I ask that you look for joy, any joy, because that is the food for the heart and soul.  I have gotten through all these chapters of my life, because I have always had hope and hope is where the sun shines through all the clouds.  I can tell you that my heart has been aching these past six weeks and bad news keep coming at me daily, but I hold on to those I love and know that I will be OK.

Find a reason to laugh and love and know that it is presence, not presents, that people want, that it is kindness that counts, and everybody (even those who are invisible in our society) is somebody.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Seasons Greetings to you all.  See you next year.






Sunday, July 14, 2013

Tic, Tic, Tic

Loving all the seasons of life, and doing OK.


 
This year my birthday was one of those that was divisible by 10.  I am not going to say,  "Where did the time go", because in contemplation,  I know where it went.

 I didn't notice it going by so fast when I was raising four loving children, nor did I notice it as I accumulated lifelong friends.  I didn't notice it when working in my gardens because every summer I would plan what to do the next year.  I didn't see it when my children reached all the milestones in their lives because I was always so proud.  I didn't notice it when I went on vacations and had wonderful adventures and made memories.  I didn't notice many things, because I was living life.

However, I did notice it when I held my first grandchild in my arms and knew that part of me will continue on for generations.  Time tapped on my shoulder again when I retired and I missed people who I had come to see everyday and loved being part of their lives.  I also missed purpose, but then I reinvented myself and found joy. 

I am more mellow now, life is not as busy, but still interesting.  I can walk six miles without breaking a sweat (on cool days), put in large gardens that fill my soul, and hold my grandchildren close. I always look forward and attempt to ignore the negativity that surrounds me.  I try never to say no, although fear now creeps in.

I embrace my age as I have lived longer than many, but gosh darn it, I wasn't done being young.