Walking at Home, Parts 1 and 2

29 Friday Jan 2010

Posted by in Other Favorite Sites, Review, Thoughts

≈ 5 Comments

If I’d known I was going to live so long,
I’d have taken better care of myself.
[Leon Eldred]

A couple of years ago, I made several changes in my life. I quit smoking. I joined Curves to avoid weight gain from the first change. And, I signed up for bi-weekly emails from Real Age.com. Taking ten minutes twice a week reading brief articles on RealAge, has probably encouraged me to make other changes I haven’t even noticed.

Since death is unavoidable, I haven’t made changes to avoid death. I’ve made changes to be a giftgiver. I’m giving myself the gift of being as well as possible for whatever time I have on earth so I can function at my peak. I’m giving my loved ones two gifts—my company, if and when they want my company, and my agility in case one of them takes care of me someday.

That last thing might sound odd but think about it. Have you taken care of someone physically? As a nurse, I have. It is a lot easier to take care of someone who is agile, toned, and not over weight. I figure that keeping fit is a gift you give to a future caregiver.

Walking is part of keeping fit. That’s hard to do daily in some regions (like this morning when it is near to zero degrees and snowing). Here are two videos from RealAge to help with the 30 minutes a day walking.

Silver Fleece

08 Friday Jan 2010

Posted by in Favorite Things, Thoughts, Writing

≈ 4 Comments

Silver fleece,
shorn from a woolly sky,
drifting down through the twilight—
each frozen tree and hedge
knitting a sweater of white.
[Bethami Watson]

Yesterday’s snow storm inspired my knitting friend, Bethami, to compose this thought poem. She shared it with me. I was inspired to share her sharing. Thank you Bethami for finding silver fleece in storm clouds.

Rock Day

07 Thursday Jan 2010

Posted by in Thoughts

≈ 4 Comments

She layeth her hands to the spindle,
and her hands hold the distaff.
[Proverbs 31:19]

In some cultures, January 6th marks the end of Christmas celebrations so January 7th was, historically, the day to return to work. This was an occasion for a party and sometimes pranks. For many women, work included spinning yarn so they brought their distaffs and flax to the party. Some spinning guilds still meet on January 7th for a party and a day of spinning.

My father made this black walnut drop spindle for me fifty years ago (I was in high school at the time). I have spun on it but never learned to use the spinning wheel. My daughter, Ellen, is the spinner in the family. She also weaves on a loom that Daddy built.

In a world that sometimes seems to spin out of order, I find comfort in touching the honeysuckle of my shuttle basket and caressing the old wood. I don’t yearn for times past, but I do enjoy meditating upon the ingenuity of our creative ancestors.

Grandson and Model Train

03 Sunday Jan 2010

Posted by in Favorite Things, Thoughts

≈ 4 Comments

And there is the headlight,
shining far down the track,
glinting off the steel rails that,
like all parallel lines,
will meet in infinity,
which is after all where this train is going.
[Bruce Catton]

Grandson, Michael, learned how to run my model train today. It took only one showing for him to realize the orange lever controlled the speed of the train, and the black button made it whistle (much to the dog’s consternation). I was amazed since he just turned two. Then he looked at me with those Paul Newman eyes and called me by name for the first time. Misegades is a complex word for a two year old. I immediately decided I’d have to write a will so I can leave my model train to him.

Civil War Trilogy

01 Friday Jan 2010

Posted by in Favorite Things, Thoughts, Writing

≈ 2 Comments

I took five years on the first volume,
five years on the second volume,
and ten years on the third volume.
[Shelby Foote]

I’m within spittin’ distance of the end of Volume I, Civil War by Shelby Foote. Whew! I’ve studied many Civil War sources over the years (among the many other history subjects I enjoy reading), BUT this series offers more information about obscure skirmishes and other interesting situations than I ever encountered before. It is also readable. For a professional historian, readable may not matter. For someone like me, hearing Shelby Foote’s genteel voice in his writing propels me through his 500,000-word volumes.

Adobe and Apples

30 Wednesday Dec 2009

Posted by in Favorite Things, Ongoing Projects, Review, Thoughts

≈ 2 Comments

Lieutenant Dan got me invested in some kind of fruit company.
So then I got a call from him,
saying we don’t have to worry about money no more.
And I said, that’s good!
One less thing.
[Forrest Gump referring to Apple Computer]

If I’d purchased stock every time I purchased software or computer upgrades in the last two decades, I could be as wealthy as Forrest. In fact, every time I upgrade I think, I ought to buy stock instead. If you are one of those who did, then I’m one of those who has been keeping Apple and Adobe in business all these years.

I just upgraded to Creative Design Suite CS4 and it blows me away. I’ve been using Illustrator for twenty years and have always wished for features like having more than one page in a document. Ta-da! It has arrived. Along with the upgrade, Adobe is treating me to a month of courses on Lynda.com. That blows me away too. Their courses are fun, well organized and polished. I’ve learned more in the past week than I have in … well, in twenty years. After all of this time, I thought I knew the software like I know my vacuum cleaner, but there is so much more to learn. What a delight.

Now that I think about it, maybe it is good I didn’t invest in Apple and Adobe. If I had amassed a fortune, I might just sit around like a slug instead of being motivated to embark on all of these learning adventures. I DO LOVE MY WORK.

Teapot Truth

29 Tuesday Dec 2009

Posted by in Favorite Things, Thoughts

≈ 7 Comments

Strange how a teapot can represent
at the same time
the comforts of solitude and
the pleasures of company.
[Author Unknown]


Truth be told, I’m a coffee drinker. I usually don’t drink tea, but I do admire tea pots. Periodically, when I clean my collection and the shelves that hold them, I pet them and glean their memories. They are like books without words—they tell me stories that I’ve heard over and over through the years. Like a child at bedtime, I enjoy the retelling just as much.

Christmas Gifts

21 Monday Dec 2009

Posted by in Favorite Things, Thoughts

≈ 4 Comments

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
[Oren Arnold]

In recent years, my family and friends have gathered at my home for Christmas brunch and gift giving. This year, presents keep gathering under my tree and in stockings in anticipation for this Friday’s celebration. My friends and kin who aren’t here also share in this celebration since I hold them in my heart.