Today the winds howled and the snow blew as a Northeaster raged through town. Swirls of icy white crystals attacked my face and glasses as I came out of the office. I lifted my face into the wind and felt the cold air hit me...curiously I was not disappointed.
What I mean by that is that I've been dreading the onslaught of winter for the past few weeks, but today I decided to embrace it head on. After all what else am I going to do?
Other news:
I'm working on my final week in my software class. What a whirlwind this has been. I've come away from class with a ton of knowledge or so I think until I have to 'use' it again!
I have my last ride of the season coming up this weekend. I'm prepared to ride in very very cold weather!
Lastly:
I really miss dad. I wished I could have shown him the cover photo I got on Mules and More magazine. That wasn't quite as exciting as getting a featured photo in Endurance News. It would have meant more to me if Dad could have seen it. I'm sure he is nodding his approval from up above...or wherever he may be!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Monday, October 09, 2006
Morris & Me
What does one need in life? A good dog to accompany you anywhere! Morris, the protector, Morris the brave...who runs and hides from squirrels and leaves that are blown off from trees.
I love Morris, he is such a buddy, when he isn't 'holding down the couch' in the living room. One would not want my couch to get up and run off.
I love Morris, he is such a buddy, when he isn't 'holding down the couch' in the living room. One would not want my couch to get up and run off.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Memories of Fall
I don't often reminisce about my childhood, but Fall brings out some special memories from then.
I can remember I had a Jr. High School Assignment. A leaf collection. We were supposed to gather fall foliage, press it in wax, and indicate the type of tree it came from.
I brought the assignment home. Mom saw it and embraced it with such enthusiasm that I was shocked. That autumn we went as a family to the Forest Preserve EACH weekend to 'gather' leaves. I can remember all of us walking the trails, mom with a tree book in hand. We'd stop and look for a leaf that we didn't have yet. We'd find it, identify it, and slide the precious leaf inside an encyclopedia book I carried to press it.
Each outing deserved a wonderful picnic and some tag football with my brother and sister--with dad watching. In my memory [now faded with time] it seems as if that fall lingered on forever with the 'Leaf Project'. It was a very happy time.
So today I walked in the woods, and looked up at the maples, red oak, white oak, poplar, ash, hickory...and thought back to that time.
I was so surprised to get my big black binder that I'd turned in with my A grade on it.
I took it home to show mom of course. Imagine her face when she read the teacher's notation under my grade.
Mrs. Rogers
A+ (well done)
I can remember I had a Jr. High School Assignment. A leaf collection. We were supposed to gather fall foliage, press it in wax, and indicate the type of tree it came from.
I brought the assignment home. Mom saw it and embraced it with such enthusiasm that I was shocked. That autumn we went as a family to the Forest Preserve EACH weekend to 'gather' leaves. I can remember all of us walking the trails, mom with a tree book in hand. We'd stop and look for a leaf that we didn't have yet. We'd find it, identify it, and slide the precious leaf inside an encyclopedia book I carried to press it.
Each outing deserved a wonderful picnic and some tag football with my brother and sister--with dad watching. In my memory [now faded with time] it seems as if that fall lingered on forever with the 'Leaf Project'. It was a very happy time.
So today I walked in the woods, and looked up at the maples, red oak, white oak, poplar, ash, hickory...and thought back to that time.
I was so surprised to get my big black binder that I'd turned in with my A grade on it.
I took it home to show mom of course. Imagine her face when she read the teacher's notation under my grade.
Mrs. Rogers
A+ (well done)
Friday, October 06, 2006
Fishing lessons
Of course of fished most of my life. I had no interest in it after a childhood of 'harvesting' fish for winter. I always enjoyed going out on the lake with my Grandmother and just holding a cane pole.
I didn't know how much I'd enjoy it as an adult until this year when we started going out on the Mississippi. Long quiet momments where we sit and have our own thoughts.
Silence with each other is comfortable, broken with a splash and a zipping noise as one of us catches a fish and reels it in.
The scenery is fantastic and the lunch [bologna, cheese, and ritz crackers] are always wonderful. We never leave the river before the sunsets. Hubby knows I just love watching the sun go down over the river.
Yesterday I got a lesson or two in tying a hook onto a line. I don't think I'll ever get it quite the way 'he' does it, but mine stays on just as good as his.
Haha...I didn't lose a hook AND a bobber yesterday!
I didn't know how much I'd enjoy it as an adult until this year when we started going out on the Mississippi. Long quiet momments where we sit and have our own thoughts.
Silence with each other is comfortable, broken with a splash and a zipping noise as one of us catches a fish and reels it in.
The scenery is fantastic and the lunch [bologna, cheese, and ritz crackers] are always wonderful. We never leave the river before the sunsets. Hubby knows I just love watching the sun go down over the river.
Yesterday I got a lesson or two in tying a hook onto a line. I don't think I'll ever get it quite the way 'he' does it, but mine stays on just as good as his.
Haha...I didn't lose a hook AND a bobber yesterday!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Cry of the Coyotes
Last nite I was sitting at the computer [doing PowerPoint homework] when the 'yotes started.
One single wail turned into a bark followed by what sounded like dozens of voices. I went to the window and put my ear to the screen.
Chills ran up my spine. They sounded frantic, they sounded as if they were right there in my yard. Morris [the ever faithful JRT] tried to climb into my arms.
The cresendo deepened, echoed off the valley and fell deadly silent only to begin again.
About the 8th time the coyotes did that, I could hear the gelding mules snorting and running.
The mules were safe.
But talk about eerie!
One single wail turned into a bark followed by what sounded like dozens of voices. I went to the window and put my ear to the screen.
Chills ran up my spine. They sounded frantic, they sounded as if they were right there in my yard. Morris [the ever faithful JRT] tried to climb into my arms.
The cresendo deepened, echoed off the valley and fell deadly silent only to begin again.
About the 8th time the coyotes did that, I could hear the gelding mules snorting and running.
The mules were safe.
But talk about eerie!
Monday, October 02, 2006
Close to Home in my Heart
Imagine my shock and dismay as I heard a snippit on the radio today about a gunman walking into an Amish school and shooting children in Lancaster....ooops the phone started to ring.
I missed the Lancaster Pennsylvania part and boy my heart went to my throat as there is a Lancaster, WI about 45 minutes from here.
Still, I listened horrified at the thought of ANY school shooting. I anxiously 'googled' the story and refreshed through out the day. My heart saddened deeply as the story unfolded.
Some of my friends know that I live close to Amish communities here and deal with them daily. I felt very somber and very sad and very, very enraged.
Last Friday a young man in Cazenovia [we call it Caz] walked into his Weston High School and killed the principal. Pardon me, but what is wrong with people? What in the h*ll is wrong with people?
I still recall those scary first momments on May 20th, 1988. I was 'chaperoning' my oldest son's class on a field trip...we pulled up in front of Greenbriar School in Northbrook, IL. The principal came trotting out, looking around carefully. I noticed there were no children at recess. The principal informed the busload of children and parents that they were to form a single file and walk quickly and quietly into the school.
I watched him lock the glass front doors behind us. This was the very same grade school that I went to as a child...the doors were always open.
Rumours were whispered that there was a killer on the loose, that a woman had walked into another suburban school and had begun to shoot killing children.
This was the first school shooting that I can recall. Laurie (Wasserman) Dann.
I recall the feeling of being scared and yet I had my children safely with me. I was in my oldest boy's classroom and my youngest son was only 50 feet down the hallway.
So when I hear about school shootings, I get a thumpity-thump in my chest and a feeling of fear 18 years later.
I missed the Lancaster Pennsylvania part and boy my heart went to my throat as there is a Lancaster, WI about 45 minutes from here.
Still, I listened horrified at the thought of ANY school shooting. I anxiously 'googled' the story and refreshed through out the day. My heart saddened deeply as the story unfolded.
Some of my friends know that I live close to Amish communities here and deal with them daily. I felt very somber and very sad and very, very enraged.
Last Friday a young man in Cazenovia [we call it Caz] walked into his Weston High School and killed the principal. Pardon me, but what is wrong with people? What in the h*ll is wrong with people?
I still recall those scary first momments on May 20th, 1988. I was 'chaperoning' my oldest son's class on a field trip...we pulled up in front of Greenbriar School in Northbrook, IL. The principal came trotting out, looking around carefully. I noticed there were no children at recess. The principal informed the busload of children and parents that they were to form a single file and walk quickly and quietly into the school.
I watched him lock the glass front doors behind us. This was the very same grade school that I went to as a child...the doors were always open.
Rumours were whispered that there was a killer on the loose, that a woman had walked into another suburban school and had begun to shoot killing children.
This was the first school shooting that I can recall. Laurie (Wasserman) Dann.
I recall the feeling of being scared and yet I had my children safely with me. I was in my oldest boy's classroom and my youngest son was only 50 feet down the hallway.
So when I hear about school shootings, I get a thumpity-thump in my chest and a feeling of fear 18 years later.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
All Things Great and Small
Yesterday I spent an hour admiring the little things in life, the itty bitty fungi on the ground, the colorful leaves that have dropped on the forest floor.
Sometimes I feel desperate at this time of fall...as though time is running out...strange isn't it?
So I stop and admire the 'little' things, and capture them on digital and film so during those cold subzero nites I can look at them and say...yes, there is a reason for all this cold and bitterness...
it is to create beauty.
I know--awful deep for an early Sunday morning...but what can I say?
Sometimes I feel desperate at this time of fall...as though time is running out...strange isn't it?
So I stop and admire the 'little' things, and capture them on digital and film so during those cold subzero nites I can look at them and say...yes, there is a reason for all this cold and bitterness...
it is to create beauty.
I know--awful deep for an early Sunday morning...but what can I say?
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