351/365 Last Sunset - 2013

Pink cotton candy

Wisps surround the setting sun

As the cold day ends.

350/365 Insurance

How can a price be

Assigned to value a life

Of interactions?

Monday Evening

It was snowing

- unexpectedly -

this morning as I got ready to

 leave for the gym.

It snowed most of the day.

 

I ran errands in the snow.

Found some bargains

shoveled the driveway

checked the mail

brought in garbage cans

made granola

did laundry

brought in firewood

created new Pinterest boards

put away the Christmas dishes

surfed for beret patterns

shuffled stuff for the new shelves

and a surprising number of

other things

while it snowed.

 



349/365 This Morning at Saylorville

Tire tracks crisscross the

Frozen lake as howling winds

Redistribute snow.

348/365 Hope

At bay we draw our

Truest breath, the touchstone of

Our humanity.

and so it goes...

This was the view on December 5:

 

Decorating for Christmas had begun. 

 

Tim decided it was time to tackle a project

that we had been discussing all summer.

I told him he could have 2 weeks.

If it couldn't be finished in

2 weeks - don't start.

He started.

 

 December 12

 

 December 16

 

December 19

 



December 21

 

 

December 22



347/365 Changes

Adventure or black

Hole new facets of life come

As they will to all.

346/365 Grace

Let’s acknowledge that

To “meet in the middle” both

Poise and pride must bow.

345/365 December Dusk

Countryside trees stand

In crisp relief against the

Dark’ning western sky.

Christmas Eve 2013

Mailbox disaster.

Laughter.  Carols.  Long, slow train.

Snow.  And dear children.

343/365 Dog Tired

Poor Charlie, grabbing

Sleep as best he can, between

Holiday visits.

342/365 Bittersweet Gatherings

Loved ones far away

Claim a share of the day’s joys

As we celebrate.

341/365 Holiday Delights

Treasured faces, found

Once more round my table make

The heart sing with thanks.

340/365 Overload

The mind spins as you

Try in vain to subdue wild

Bursts of frenzied thought.

339/365 Package for Logan

Hats, mittens, booties;

Small somethings for a small boy

Fighting a big fight.

338/365 On Alert

Ears forward, body

Poised, ready to act, bold Charles

Sits at the window.

337/365 Overhead

Bellies white against

The pale evening sky, three geese

Streak toward shelter.

336/365 Foggy Night

A ghostly gauze hangs

Across the moon, tattered and

Drifting aimlessly.

For Valerie...

...because she asked so nicely
and because it's too early to go to bed.

 

Tunic length sweater, knit pants worn tucked
 into boots and my blazer.
Unless I can work some real magic on that
blazer this winter will be its last.
I can now wear it (buttoned) with both a long sleeve shirt
and my fisherman sweater.

 

 This is one of the cashmere cardigans we bought during
that long-ago shopping spree.
It is one of my few "old" pieces that still fit
and I love wearing it with this
striped shirt.
Here it is with skirt, tights, boots and pearls

and here with grey jeans, and different shoes and necklace.

These trousers have been versatile

 

 as the grey jeans are proving themselves to be.

I do love a flannel shirt

and this one is tunic length so it

presents less casual than most.

 

This worked well before the cold settled in

but we're forecast to hit near 40 this week

so it may make another appearance.

 

And the red coat continues to delight.

 

I haven't made straight-line progress

with Christmas shopping

because I keep finding things for myself.

This week  (THIS week)

I came home with new

(well, some of this was thrifted)

yoga pants

a plaid skirt

2 tops

1 sweater

and a wonderful pair of

berry/burgundy jeans.

Oh - and a new pair of

"alligator" booties.

They look so good with the new jeans.

Can you tell I love those jeans!?

I'll include a picture of them soon.

 

I'm still experimenting to find a reliable way to

take these pictures.  Often it

just doesn't occur to me

until the clothes are in a pile at the end of the day.

 

I have a haircut scheduled for Tuesday. 

It is truly amazing to see

how much my hair grows in six weeks.

 

My to-do list is pretty reasonable

for the week before Christmas.

The gym every morning.

Some last minute shopping tomorrow.

Hair on Tuesday.

Baking and cleaning as it fits

 throughout the week.

Charlie has a bath scheduled on Friday

so any last last minute

shopping can happen then, too.

Jacob flies into Minneapolis on Friday night

then he, Naphtali and Aidan will

come down Saturday.

The Jordisons descend on Sunday.

Fort Dodge on Tuesday.

Kids leave Wednesday.

Naps and sanity resume Thursday.

 

How is your week shaping up?

 

 

 



335/365 Reflection

The mind casts back o’er

Days and feats well-past then scans

Forward with wisdom.

334/365 Nocturne

A long day’s end draws

Within reach its hectic pace

Replaced by repose

333/365 Flight

Startled pigeons lift

Off turning to quicksilver

In the morning sun.

332/365 Review

Good, bad, in-between;

Memories chronicle our

Defining moments.

331/365 Wednesday's Readers

Shedding mittens and

Coats, they linger, choosing books

In warm denial.

330/365 As Time Goes By

Rick and Ilsa’s tale

Resounds with timeless truths: love

And humanity.

329/365 Undaunted

Single digit temps

Proved insufficient to stop

Intrepid shoppers.

328/365 Gentle Snowfall

Soft flakes drift earthward

Creating a lustrous glow

Everywhere you look.

It's Beginning to look a Lot Like Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

327/365 Christmas Lights

Twinkling lights conjure

The ghost of Christmas past and

Mem’ries bittersweet.

326/365 Flight Interrupted

Poised, with eyes bright and

Ears erect, the fox waits to

Spring into the lane.

325/365 Contentment

Cozy day at home

Spent with busy hands and warm

Thoughts of cherished friends.

324/365 Wintery Bluster

Chill December winds

Howl past my windows making

Even warm bones ache.

323/365 Carols

Familiar comfort

Set to catchy tunes prompts us

To smile with strangers.

322/365 Migration

Undulating vees

Stretch southward across the sky

As days grow shorter.

321/365 The Lake this December Morning

Winding lines mark loose

Edges as encroaching ice

Meets open water.

320/365 Bookmarked?

Memory confirms

I’ve seen it but can’t pinpoint

The title or page.

319/365 On the Hunt

Wings out-stretched to ride

The wind, a hawk glides o’erhead

With swift elegance.

318/365 Tradition

Honored customs can

Benefit from a new frame

Of mind as we grow.

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow holds so much expectation.

 

Traditions,

while supplying a context

for our observations and

expectations,

can sometimes benefit from an

occasional update.

 

 

 

For many of us, of a certain generation, 

Thanksgiving traditionally marked

the beginning of the

 "holiday season."

 

In recent years we've seemed to carom from

one event to the next

with barely a pause for breath,

let alone time

to actually enjoy or reflect

on our holiday traditions.

 

Thanksgiving

can become lost in the holiday

shuffle fueled by

magazine spreads, Pinterest and other

media options that bring images,

 wish lists, and DIY projects to our

attention with dizzying speed.

 

There is no shortage of blessings

 in my life that

could/would/should

prompt my thankfulness.

 

Tomorrow

will be a day of celebration.

 Norman Rockwell's

universe rarely

-if ever -

aligns with mine

but it doesn't make my family

any less special

or my thanks

any less sincere.

 

I hope your day will be spent in

the company of those you

hold dear.

 

 

317/365 Thrilled

Each item crossed through,

The finished list marks the day

A complete success!

316/365 The View from my Window

Dazzling sunshine tells

Only half the story as

Frigid north winds howl.

315/365 Options

The pause between plans

A and B gives a heartbeat’s

Chance to change your day.

314/365 Echoes

The mem’ry of a

Newborn’s mewl reverberates

Deep within the heart.

313/365 Distraction

Things necessary

Vie for attention amid

Bright lights and glitter.

312/365 Stretch

Doubt gives way to glad

Relief as one last effort

Satisfies our reach.

311/365 Snowfall

Streetlights obscured by

Falling snow create spectral

Pools of dampened light.

310/365 Relief

Questions addressed can

Ease the worry created

By tacit concerns.

309/365 Cold Determination

Swirling winds nip as

Shoppers bustle in and out

Under sunny skies.

308/365 Starry Night

Lightly frosted roofs

Reflect  the subtle glow from

A star-speckled sky.

307/365 November Rain

Drumming rain coaxes

The wakeful to linger in

Drowsy contentment.

306/365 Moonlight

Radiance fills the

Eastern sky casting shadows

Deep in the still night.

305/365 Family

Blood ties or chosen

Bonds – the heart lays claim to those

Who enrich our lives.

304/365 Days' End

Tasks completed, plans

Reviewed and talk winds down as

Thoughts turn toward rest.   

Change of Plans

 

Charlie and I are waiting for it to warm up a bit

before we take a walk

and as my run to Webster City has

been cancelled,

I have what amounts to a free day.

Yippee!

 

What to do!?

As with any free time - it will fill

much too quickly

and seem much too short.

 

It struck me, yesterday, that we

are half-way through November.  How that

happened is a mystery, but it

means that I need to get started

on Aidan's advent calendar which is

traditionally delivered

at Thanksgiving.

A tradition that started when we lived hours

 and hours away

as a way for me to share the

holiday anticipation with him.

 

One year he received fancy envelopes

containing a carol for each day.  His dad

sang them at bedtime.

 

Another year it was the pages

of a lovely story of a pine tree

 rewarded for its

kindness to other forest creatures.

 

His own tree and ornaments one year.

 

Last year his reading skills

allowed me to mark off

pages for him to read everyday

from a schmaltzy cute paperback

about a homeless dog looking

for a family during the holidays.

 

Other years have been a combination

of whatever

school supplies

trinkets

gum

coins

bills

games

puzzles

will fit in the chosen container.

 

Pinterest

 

It's time to choose a container and theme -

a task that gets harder as he grows older.

If I want to keep the containers manageable

the content is pretty limited.

He doesn't like chocolate

which eliminates an easy default.

He's a boy - cute stuff only goes so far.

 

So today will be dedicated to strategy.

Making plans and lists.

Sorting through materials on hand.

Necessary groundwork

for productivity

if this Christmas project

 is actually going to happen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



303/365 November Moon

Mottled moon, high in

A pale blue sky, waits with me,

For the sun to set.

302/365 Bright Spots

Small victories lift

The spirit, instilling hope

When life seems mundane.

Monday Night

I find myself at the end of a busy weekend

looking forward to a busy week.

 

So a short recap of the trip to

Minneapolis is in order.

Driving.

Laughing.

Eating.

Shopping

Laughing.

Eating.

Scrabble.

Laughing.

Eating.

Driving.

 

Naphtali took good care of us.

We're all still speaking so we can

call the weekend A Success.

The weather was mild so the red coat

didn't make it's debut

but tomorrow's walk to work will remedy

that situation.

 

This morning it snowed and

though it is that time of year and you know

that snow can fall at

any time, the first

snowfall always seems so unexpected.

Little more than a

light dusting, it still

packs a psychological punch.

 

My calendar actually looks rather full this week.

My work week starts tomorrow.

A lunch date Wednesday.

Quick trip to Webster City and back on Thursday.

An open house that evening.

Friday night I'll help serve

Thanksgiving dinner at Kennybrook. 

 They're expecting 360 guests

- three dining rooms, three seatings -

I'll be at the library all day Saturday,

 partying that night

and finish the weekend by

working Sunday afternoon.

 

I think it's time to set my clothes out for the gym

in the morning and

head to bed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



301/365 First Snowfall

Driven by fierce winds

Flakes flew past leaving a few

To dust the rooftops.

300/365 On Waking

Sunlight filters through

Matchstick blinds lending rosy

Charm to cozy rooms.

299/365 Gloomy Day

Low-flying clouds on

The horizon foretell the

Advent of winter.

298/365 Perseverance

Ears pinned flat against

His head by savage winds the

Dog ambled onward.

Road Trip

Heading North this weekend.

My mother and sister want to see

my daughter's new house.

Tonight will find me at their place

- a ninety minute drive -

and in the morning we'll point the car

in the direction of the Twin Cities and see what

the day brings.

 

They had snow in the cities earlier this week

and, even though Naphtali

assures me it will be gone before we

arrive, the weather provides a good excuse to

debut a recent thrift store find.

 

 

I rediscovered a forgotten fact about

vintage wool coats:

They are wool.

With a satin lining.

No thermo-tek engineering here. 

It should be well-suited for

the predicted mid-40s this weekend

but probably won't stand up

to the frigid extremes we'll experience

later this winter. 

 

For some women it's all about the

shoes, jewelry or purses.

Me?  It's coats. 

This one was just too fun, and

- even with the dry cleaning -

 too cheap, to leave hanging. 

It will require a certain attitude as

its main accessory

and, as I've pretty much been in a

damn-the-torpedoes mood lately,

it should be perfect.

 

 



297/365 Bravado

Saucy squirrels taunt

Neighborhood dogs enjoying

A safe, fencepost perch.

296/365 Laughter

Disbelief becomes

comic relief as friends share

outlandish stories.

295/365 Rainy Day

Shimmering mists wrap

the countryside in a thick

cloak of mystery.

Rainy Day

It's raining today so outside activities and

projects have been postponed.

There are a couple things calling for my attention

before work but they can wait

a few more minutes.

 

I baked gingerbread cookies yesterday

using a maple leaf cutter.

I love the mellow combination of molasses

and spices.  We enjoyed our portion and the rest

will go to work with me today.

 

This is the view outside my bedroom window.

It creates a gentle rosy glow throughout the room

but the leaves are thinning quickly

and soon we'll be surrounded by bare branches.

 

Hard to believe from this shot, but Charlie

seems to be having some anxiety issues.



I'm working to incorporate more exercise into his day,

hoping it will have the same positive effect

for him that it does for me.

 

This is the new bracelet. 

It's going to work with me today, too.

294/365 Kitchen Magic

The aroma of

 Fresh-baked gingerbread fends off

The chilliest winds.

293/365 Tricks of the Trade

Morning’s shifted light

Has the last laugh as vigor

Fades with setting sun.

Killing Time

It's too late to start anything new

before bedtime

but I have too much time to do nothing

so here I am.

 

Pictures will be added another time

because I'm already at my desk.

You'll have to come back.

 

Tim sent me shopping for my birthday.

(He also came home with flowers,

 and fixed his signature shrimp pizza for supper.)

 

He acknowledged my

thrift store purchases

and alterations

 and said it was time to have

some new things.

Hard to argue with that.

We agreed on a price range and

thanks to a great sale

and some coupons

I was able to spend almost twice

the allotted monies.

 

I came home with a mixture of

classic

fun

and utility pieces.

 

I'm normally a careful

and almost reluctant shopper

but

(and this is where the promised picture comes in)

 my way out of the store

passes the jewelry counter.

Something caught my eye and I

made an instant decision

- and I do mean instant -

that a particular

bracelet was going home with me.

(Well outside the allotment but hey - it was my birthday)

 

It's going to be so much fun to wear

and the c/w will factor out to pennies in no time!

 

 

 

 

 

 



292/365 Holiday Onslaught

Glitter and sparkles

Whisper insistently that

Festivity reigns.  

291/365 Voice Over

My son’s voice echoes,

For tonight, the clearing piping

Notes from his childhood.

Reflections on a Lazy Night

It's Beggar's Night in Grimes.

Answering the door falls to me, so

tonight's tasks can't be anything that needs

undivided attention.
With knitting and reading out of the question
this seemed like a good way
to occupy my time.

 

I've been enjoying the rhythms of the season.

Harvest has ended for many local farmers.

One has begun planting posts for

snow fencing.

 

The trees have been lovely.

Over the weekend we drove past a

fairly new tract of homes

and I was encouraged to see how many

new trees had been planted.

For some reason those spindly trunks topped by

their brilliant scarlet leaves

made a statement about young

(presumably young) homeowners

investing in the future

when a new patio set may 

have had a more immediate payoff.

 

I'm also feeling a certain

squirrel-like urgency in these last

 few days before daylight savings ends.

Darkness late into the morning  and

falling early in the evening

makes the day too short and too busy 

when there are projects to tackle!!

 

290/365 Lost Time

Darkness crowding both

Ends of day makes each minute

As precious as light.

289/365 Vagaries

Laugh, cry.  Black, white, red!

Short, long.  Together, alone.

Today, tomorrow.

288/365 Secrets

Shining eyes disclose

The excitement that careful

Wording seeks to hide.

287/365 Mixed Reactions

Joy and sorrow, at

Times, sit too closely making

Our tears bittersweet.

286/365 October Morn

Scarlet leaves atop

Thin branches quiver, touched by

Autumn’s frosty air.

285/365 October Outing

Sunshine, reflected

In smiling faces, warms a

Lovely afternoon.

Friday!?

Did your week pass as quickly as mine?

 

Two days were spent sitting in

the dark as training sessions introduced 

the staff to a new cataloging/records

system for the library.

That kind of disruption in normal routines

always challenges my sense of

days/time.

You know that feeling, right?

 

It has been a productive week, though.

Furniture has been re-arranged.

Closets and cupboards addressed.

And with the onset of colder days my

kitchen has seen some action.

 

These two ideas/recipes were from

Pinterest:

 

 These pumpkin muffins contain just a dab

of molasses which makes them so

moist and mellow.

 

The apple chips - easy and oh, so tasty -

were a hit at work.

 

So I started thinking...

why wouldn't this work with potatoes?

 

Guess what's in my oven?

 

I used our garden potatoes - flavorful! -

 tried different thicknesses

sprinkled salt

and added cayenne to a small sample.

 

The very thin slices took hardly any time

to crisp and were so delicious!

Yes, that past tense is correct. 

 

My mantra for the rest of the day is

Mustsavesomefortim.