31 July, 2013

199/365 Uncertainties


Clear-cut direction

Should be tempered by patience

To make the right choice.

Throwing in the Towel

It has been cool here these last few days.
We've enjoyed having open windows.
Fresh breezes.
The chatter of squirrels
and birdsong as our soundtrack.
 
google images
 
Yesterday was overcast,
cool, but humid. 
  So. Very. Humid.
You could be whereas I was covered with a clammy film
just standing thinking about work.
Just thinking!
 
Today it will warm up,
to what would still be considered
open window weather,
but it means the humidity
will intensify.
Intensify!
When I finish this post
I'm closing the house and turning on the AC.
 
I will wear my badge of wimpdom in comfort.
 
 
 
 

30 July, 2013

198/365 Cloudy Day

Unbroken gray skies
Glimmer softly, obscuring
The Sun's light and warmth.

29 July, 2013

197/365 Business


As a close friend of

Time and tide, pressing affairs

Are full speed ahead!

28 July, 2013

196/365 Creature Comforts


The common sounds of

Domesticity echo

Through cool morning air.

27 July, 2013

195/365 Before Dawn


Utter stillness – no

Light, no sound, no movement – then

A single bird sings.

A good day

I'm tired.
My back/shoulders hurt.
I worked today - just got home.
My day isn't finished yet.
 
The day started with a special class.
6:15 - 7:30.
Our ten weeks is soon to end,
so this gave us a taste of how the other half lives.
It was a combination of
strength and cardio
bags and bands.
I can see why it is a favorite.
 
 
 
But - for me - it involves an alarm clock
set for 5:00.
Gone (long gone) are the days of
rolling out of bed and into the car.
I need to wake up
get everything going the right direction 
eat breakfast
prepare myself.
 
When I left the house at 5:50 am
I needed a jacket.
A jacket!
 
Week eight begins Monday.
 
I spent last weekend altering
waist bands, thighs and shoulders because
I don't want to buy any new clothes
to finish out the summer.
 
Busy days ahead...
 


26 July, 2013

194/365 Cool Down


A change in the air

Is verified by open

Windows all around.

25 July, 2013

193/365 Trees


Creaky branches or

Sheltering boughs depends on

Each day’s perspective.

24 July, 2013

192/365 Closing the Gap


Anticipation

 Drives each decision as goals

Meet expectations.

23 July, 2013

191/365 Road Trip


Memories wake as

 Once familiar places climb

The far horizon.

22 July, 2013

190/365 John Dabill 1925 - 2013


Humility and

Kindly service tendered thus

In the name of Love.

Monday Morning

We had some rain yesterday.
There could be more today.
It would be good to have a nice rain
but this time of year it tends to come as a
hard, fast storm.
 
Another round of moisture should
be enough to bring the
green beans to eating size.
 
Last night Tim grilled:
 potatoes
from the garden
with mushrooms and onions
and
shrimp in the shells.
Delicious.
 
Today it's back to routines:
laundry
gym
sanding.
 
They've upped the ante
at the gym.  I come home tired
in the way I was tired during the first
few weeks when everything
was new and
challenging.
 


 
We're starting week seven
- three to go -
so here are three things I've learned:
 
hunger and boredom
are not synonymous
 
I can, in fact, push my body
further
harder
longer
than my mind thinks possible
 
tiger balm and ibuprofen
do me more good before class than after.
 
 
 

21 July, 2013

189/365 Storms Ahead


Ominous aspect

Masks potential benefit

Of gathering clouds.

20 July, 2013

188/365 Humanity


An unexpected

Kindness delights even the

Most stalwart loner.

19 July, 2013

187/365 Echoes


Distant voices sing

Of loss and longing, tempered

By unfilled desire.

Flotsam and Jetsom

It seems as that shoes have taken
an inordinate amount of my time and energy
recently, so I did a quick tour
to show you, and remind me, that I
have, in fact accomplished
quite a lot in the last week.  Or so.

I attend my class every morning
and have added a quick mile on the elliptical
when I get home.
Today I went through my drawers and 
closet trying on clothes.
I have a pile that will go to the goodwill
and a pile for alterations.
 
There has been a lot of gardening.
A lot of watering.
The lettuce and spinach were finished a couple
weeks ago.  Peas, too.
Believe me, though, when I say they were
scrumptious. We ate fresh potatoes.
 
The heat this past week has been tough on
us, the yard and all the plants,
requiring some extra TLC especially for
 me, Charlie, my wisteria
and the potted plants.

See how awful the grass is!?
(We don't water the grass.)
 
 
But the Russian Sage is looking good.

As are the moss rose

  and sedums.
 
I planted a carpet rose.
 
The hutch is back 
(where I think) it belongs.
 
The yellow wall is gone.
(Can't take credit for the paint job - Tim did it.)
 
The bathroom window is finished.
(I did do the painting, here.)
 
Plants have been trimmed,
 tended  
and deployed all over the place.
 
I had fun with spray paint. 
 
I finished my pile of sanding for the deck project.
 
 
 
We'll see what tomorrow brings...

18 July, 2013

186/365 Baking


Breathe memories as

Evocative aromas

Spread throughout the house.

17 July, 2013

185/365 Each Other


Simple words convey

The breadth of belonging, the

Knowledge that we share.

Change of Plans

My afternoon plans changed
leaving me several attractive options
before leaving for work:
nap
watch a movie
write my haiku
post about the exciting
package delivered to my doorstep!!
 
I've recently spent too many hours
of too many days
looking online and in stores
for a pair of shoes for
Jacob's wedding.
 
I've never considered myself
a "shoe" person
but the longer you look
the more you see...
It does amaze me that shoes/heels/pumps
-which essentially share a standard construction-
can elicit such a varied response.
I've seen some that all
you can do is say
"That is a beautiful shoe,"
while the one sitting next to it doesn't earn a second glance.
To digress here about the seductive and expensive
options out there would keep me from
the object of this post
so let's soldier on.
 
 


 
Putting my best foot forward
I can only ask:
What do you think!?
 
 


16 July, 2013

184/365 Work


A steady, measured

Pace in the oppressive heat

Defines the day’s task.

15 July, 2013

183/365 Too Fast


Life’s clock steadily

Moves forward heeding not our

Plea for extra time.

Monday

I'm not a
princess-and-the-pea
sort of girl.
google images
 
Every now and then, though, some
little thing will disturb my equanimity.
 
This past week it was our internet.
Log on, just get going and
I'd be disconnected.
Reconnecting was a drawn-out affair.
Just get going and
the process would be repeated.
 
I'd give up.
(It turned out to be quite a productive time.)
 
The little green lights on the
modem continued to flash as usual.
Mocking me.
 
It was very irritating.
Gave me no trouble yesterday.
Today has been fine, too.
 
Hope your day has gone well.
 
 


14 July, 2013

182/365 High Summer


The long, drowsy days

Merge hazily as we

Await Fall’s relief.

13 July, 2013

181/365 Inconvenience


In the midst of all

Things pleasant that one nuisance

Doggedly intrudes.

Update - week 5

Woo Hoo indeed!
 
Time for the mile?
12:55.
 
Five weeks ago it was 15:47.
 
Woo Hoo!


Woo Hoo!

Today marks the end of week 5 -
the halfway point of
my ten week kickboxing session.
Yesterday we did weights and measurements
and today will be the mile run/walk
push-ups and sit-ups.
 
According to the records I have:
lost a total of 10 inches
gained 1.5 inches of flexibility
lost 7 pounds
seen a corresponding change in my BMI.
 
I know that my clothes fit differently
I feel better
move more easily
hurt less
smile more.
 
I can do rowboats.
They may be leaky rowboats
but 5 weeks ago I had to prop on my elbows
and could barely move my legs.
(Rowboats are a combination of balanced sitting 
with back and forth motion of the arms
while your legs are pulled in and pushed out
mimicking the action of rowing)
google images
I'll let you know how the results of the rest of the testing.
 
 

12 July, 2013

180/365 Journey


Point A to point B

Sounds simple enough but each

Step brings challenges.

11 July, 2013

179/365 Summer Evening


Leafy branches sway

With a soft rhythm as day

Fades gently to dusk.

Busy Days

"We need to stain the deck," she said.
"Okay," he replied.
Or maybe it was the other way around... 
 


 
We've been waiting for a stretch of dry weather
to tackle the deck.
Silly me, I thought we would
 wash it
slap some stain on
call it good.
I knew that wasn't going to happen when
 Tim started talking about replacing screws.
 
One bench has been eliminated.
The other will get new boards.
We are sanding
and treating
and reassembling
and at least one other step that
I've already forgotten.
 
He is thorough.
And I will appreciate that as
time passes and we can
laugh at the need for deck maintenance.
 


10 July, 2013

178/365 Numbers


Impressive numbers,

Relentless numbers, clamor

For my attention.

All in a Day's Work

Driving home from my class this morning
the truck in front of me
advertised this:
 
ScooperTroopers
Pet Waste Removal Services.
 
I kid you, not.
 
 

09 July, 2013

177/365 Deadlines


Pressure to perform
Has its upside – the countdown
Focuses effort.

08 July, 2013

176/365 Little Things


Simple pleasures shared

With familiar faces bring
Delight to each day

07 July, 2013

175/365 Approaching Rain


The sullen grey sky

Promises rain, but not here;

Eastward it will fall.

06 July, 2013

174/365 Summer Sky


High, endless expanse

Of cloudless blue, shimmering

With reflected heat.

05 July, 2013

173/365 The Search


A defined purpose

Guides and redirects as my

Attention wanders.

Friday Morning

For whatever reason
today has a sort of Monday feel to it.
 
Yesterday found us working on the deck.
It needs to be stained.
And the already big project took on
ginormous proportions
when Tim stated replacing screws and removing boards.
There isn't much to show for our hours
of work yesterday.
 
But it's his baby now because
Charlie and I are heading to Minneapolis
after my morning class.
I can't wait to see what Naphtali
has done with her kitchen.
She mentioned an Ikea run so I've been
thinking about what I might
need here from there.
 
Holiday or not
we did have class yesterday.
It was a circuit class. 
Steps,
bags,
rings,
and medicine balls
all focusing on lower body muscle groups.
I was wobbly for quite
some time after it ended.
 
I might need to get a medicine ball...
 


04 July, 2013

172/365 Summer Breeze


Refreshingly soft

Caresses on sun-warmed skin

Bring gentle relief.

03 July, 2013

171/365 Contradiction


Robust confidence

Meets deep insecurity

In the blush of youth.

02 July, 2013

170/365 Summer Storm


An unexpected squall

Races across the summer

Sky, trailing dark clouds.

Good Morning

Such a beautiful morning!!
I ate my breakfast
(my second breakfast)
on the deck.
Fresh blueberries and
bran flakes.
Yum.

01 July, 2013

169/365 Relaxing


Laughter floats along

The cool evening breeze as the

Day’s press diffuses.

Monday Afternoon

We saw a bit more activity than we're used to
over the weekend.
 
Our niece, Alison, was married on Saturday afternoon.
Aidan was a junior groomsman
so he, his mother, and his dog came down
Thursday night.  It might have actually
been Friday morning
when they arrived.
Aidan carried the rings and handed them off
to the minister at the designated cue.
He performed admirably,
looked handsome,
and represented the family well.
 
In addition to the wedding,
the rehearsal etc
and my regular classes
those few days included a trip to
Adventureland,
a haircut,
tennis,
a quick shopping trip,
the library,
rain, wind, sunshine,
fresh peas from the garden,
laundry,
a watermelon,
lots and lots of visiting,
and a new game invented by Tim and Aidan
called squirt ball.
A classic kickball with the addition of squirt gun options
for the fielders.
 
The bride was lovely,
the cake was delicious,
and the band was really loud.