Being in the garden with my grandma while she tended tomatoes and cucumbers was often educational and always relational. Watching her sew on buttons and whip up a meringue was magical. It was a way for us to connect. She taught me well. I love to cook, garden, knit, and quilt. I come from a long line of women who enjoy making and growing all sorts of things. When I was first living on my own, I would call Grandma often. Knowing how to get the powdered sugar just right on the chocolate ...read more
U and I and iPhone
My iPhone gets me in trouble often. Recently, I was responding by text to a friend regarding where we might meet for dinner. After a suggestion of location, I responded with “Okey Dokey”. Autocorrect didn’t quite grasp my midwest version of ”ok”, and responded to my friend with “Honkey Monkey”. I find that these quirky nuances of the iPhone are humility creating events from time to time. The “U” and “I” are so darn close together on the keyboard. I cannot be expected to hit the right buttons ...read more
Dead Wood
In my front yard is a 20-year-old silverleaf maple tree. It’s beautiful in the spring when the new buds pop through with their green and yellow spouts. It’s stunning in the fall with its blazing orange and red leaves. In the summer it creates privacy for my bedroom and shade from the intense Colorado sun. Last year, about ¾ of the tree never produced a leaf. I had the tree guys come look at her. They did tests and some root examination, and charged me quite a lot, I might add. They left me ...read more
What is beauty? -Part 1
How complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness. - Leo Tolstoy People Magazine has the highest advertising revenue of any magazine in the U.S, and a readership of over 45 million. A few weeks ago, the annual 100 Most Beautiful People list was published. By beautiful, they mean physically. They make that clear, because they also have a list of those who are pretty, but have a crooked nose, big thighs, etc. Yep, they really do. As I listened to the radio personalities discuss the ...read more
Ambiguous Loss
The pain of deep loss plays out in unpredictable ways. Unpredictability is vulnerable, and vulnerability leaves me feeling exposed. I may be exposed for what I really am... a mere mortal. Sometimes, the pain of loss is due to the death of someone treasured. A precious baby girl, a vibrant young mother, a soldier, a grandfather…. gone. Their absence leaves an aching emptiness in our hearts and vacant places in our lives. There is another kind of loss. Ambiguous loss; a loss of ...read more