It really is difficult to visit the past at times. Last night I took the girls to see a musician I used to see a lot back in the mid eighties. I was astounded to see that he was playing in Easton, Maryland at a coffee house. When he came on stage, (actually, just entered the room and stood in front of us) he didn't look much different than twenty something years ago. He had the same moves and still had a strong voice. But the words he was singing were the words of a twenty something trying to describe his world. This man is now 49. And even the twenty somethings in my world are more centered and grounded in their surroundings to sink to some of the levels of lyrics this guy did.
The twins couldn't stand any more of the 45 year old women in miniskirts swooning so they left to take pictures of the Easton nightlife. I stayed for the next set because there had to be some redemption right? Well, it made me really appreciate my husband's willingness to abandon dreams of musical stardom and focus on raising a family and building a business to provide for the five of us. I appreciate that he would give up late Saturday nights to shepard us all to church early Sunday morning and fill his need to play music in that environment. I know when he gets the opportunity to play out with musicians it fills a desire for him, but he has sacrificed that for us and I love him all the more for it.

vanished

Could someone please enlighten me as to where the word, "disappear" has gone to? Every day I hear and see places where this word should be used, but instead in its place is the very British term, "gone missing" or "went missing". I hate this. It truly causes a small form of anger to course through my veins. Oh, don't misunderstand. If you are British and saying this it doesn't bother me in the least. But, if you are an American and you are using this term....STOP IT! It's silly coming out of your mouth. It's silly coming out of every broadcasters mouth. It's silly in the newspaper headlines. It's just plain silly. You aren't saving any syllables. And you're making me mad. Oh! and I'm laughing at you inside my head at your pretentiousness too. Unless you're under the age of 12, then I figure you don't know any better.

Messiah visit

The twins and I took an exploratory trip to Messiah College yesterday. What a place! A beautiful campus on rolling green hills in Pennsylvania just 10 minutes from its capitol city. They have wonderful filled art studios for every imaginable medium. Rooms dedicated to musicians to play their hearts desire on pianos. Theaters that show recent movies to the students for just a buck. There are cinema rooms for film students and cafes for hanging out. There are auditoriums for speakers and shows and a gorgeous indoor swimming pool in a wonderful sports center. There is even a small museum in the science hall that hosts an elephant skeleton, a stuffed crocodile and kodiak bear among other specimens.
What a privilege for those accepted to attend. I wonder if they all realize it? The library took my breath away, literally! You can stand behind a glass wall on a balcony and look down over it. It was enough to cause a bibliophile to swoon.
All that and we were there in just over 3 hours from our front door to theirs. I made the round trip with just over a half tank of gas. Now that is worth considering in the big search for a school.

fruitful recovery and a vegetable mystery

Well, the boy is on the mend! He ate some grapes and strawberries yesterday, and had a couple of bites of a hot dog. Yeah, don't judge me by that hot dog, I am fully aware that it is the last thing he should have eaten. But, when your kid hasn't eaten in 6 days you give him anything he wants to eat.
The lab called and the doc says it's not mono. Halleluiah!! There is an infection and they don't know what it is, but they've put him on antibiotics and though I haven't checked his fever this morning it was down yesterday. He stayed awake more yesterday and definitely had more energy. He was happy that it seemed to be subsiding as he is tired of all this:) He's ready to be a 12 year old boy on summer vacation.
I'm ready to be a mom who sleeps in her own bed(next to her dear husband) instead of on the couch next to a snoring child who walks in his sleep.
Again, my heart goes out to Damien who has been ill or weakened so often in the past few years for long periods, and to Kate who was so devoted to caring for him in those times. Thank you Lord for an end to Jedd's short tunnel and also that the Howards are truly seeing the light at the end of their extensive tunnel.
In the spirit of good health I report that my gardens are also flourishing. I actually was able to go out yesterday and pick some baby spinach leaves for our chicken salad last night. What a wholesome feeling! We really lose a connection when we never experience growing anything to feed and nourish ourselves. If you don't have anything growing this year, I really encourage you to plant anything, tomatoes, spinach, whatever, in a pot if you must. Just one thing to connect yourselves to the dirt:)
I am amazed by the speed at which some things have grown. I did most things from seed this year. Pumpkins are just growing like Jack's beanstalk. Wildly. Onions, spindly and hardly there yet. Cucumbers and strawberries are showing their little fruitful beginnings. Peas are sending tendrils climbing up the fence, which is truly amazing to observe. God has created these plants to send out feelers to pulls themselves up. Cucumbers too. But not the tomatoes. Why? The tomatoes will just flop over and fall on the ground in their weight if not caged. Well, to be fair so would the others, but give the others some string tied across or a cage and they pull themselves up with those tiny threadlike tendrils. And here's a question for those of you who are real gardeners. Where do the seeds come from for things like carrots and spinach? They haven't flowered. There is nothing inside them as there is watermelons and tomatoes. It is a bit of a mystery to me.

barf bags and birthdays (cheerful, no?)

I awoke this morning to day 5 of Jedd being ill with a fever hovering around 102. We've spent the past three nights sleeping on the big red wrap-around couch in the living room. He tends to get a bit delirious at night when he's fevered and sleepwalk, talk and generally freak me out by his behavior. His eyes are open, he looks awake, but he's not. So I stay on the same room with him because I really think one of these times he's going to go outside. That's not a thought I relish at 3 a.m. This is a kid who won't go to a different floor of the house alone at night. Can you imagine if he woke up outside alone at night? Hmmm...
We went and had bloodwork drawn yesterday and throat swabbed and a very funny ( from my side of the door anyway) experience of the lad trying to pee into a sterile cup and then dropping the lid into the toilet. The doc said she'd call today with the results. The nurse had her money on thrush. I really thought that was for babies only.... The doctor had her sights set on mono. That would be sad since he's supposed to start his sailing class next week. Oh well. God knows best. Last year he lost his week old eye glasses, in sailing class. Maybe this will prevent him from doing it again.
On a happier note, It's our dear friend Henley's birthday today. 17! And while Jedd and I will stay far away from the planned festivities, she will be in our thoughts and prayers all day long. I will ban Jedd from the kitchen while I make her birthday cake. She wants a giant cupcake for her cake. I mean giant. Like a regular cake size only, a cupcake. There is a mold out there but we couldn't find it so now it's a challenge. And I am game for that! I have all kinds of little toys culled from the shop for party favor bags. I am a party favor fan and I learned from the queen who was Henley's mom. I really miss my friend Crystal today and I know it's a bittersweet day for Henley and her sister, Cavin.
Lord God, today I lift these three up to you, Jedd, Henley and Cavin. I ask for strength in Jedd's body and a spirit of peace for him throughout this illness. I thank you that you have given us a doctor who shares her wisdom with us and really cares about her patients.
And Father, I lift up Henley and Cavin. I ask that you would continue to lighten their hearts and give them peace. In this coming year give them strength to get through the difficult days and find joy in your world. Let them feel your presence and your truth.
Amen.
'

I really miss writing on this little blog, but I have nothing to say. Nothing. I am reading truly depressing words about the state of the world and how Russia is teaming with Iran and together they could bring about the end of the world. See? Depressing. I'd like to go back to the days of my childhood reading when Trixie Belden and Honey Wheeler would solve a crisis within their own sphere, of the missing bridle from the stable or some such triviality, which would set their world off its axis. But all would always be set straight by the end of the story.
Well, I know the end of my little family's story will end straight, by the grace of God, but I am saddened by the thought that there are those I know whose own stories might not end so well if Iran should send over nuclear warheads in the coming days, months or years. See? Depressing....

oil companies and movie stars

Two days ago, the senate voted to sue OPEC. If you haven't heard this already, it's not a typo. Our leaders have decided to sue OPEC for breaching American anti-trust laws. Huh?! Does this frighten anyone else? I'm not even thinking of retaliation on the part of OPEC in the sense of them raising oil prices yet again. I'm thinking that this is what Al-Queda keeps accusing us of being...arrogant Americans who think the globe revolves around ourselves.
Did anyone watch any of c-span's coverage of our illustrious leaders interrogating the presidents and ceo's of the leading oil companies of this nation? Patrick Leahy (of Vermont)had the nerve to ask each of the gentlemen their salaries, which ranged from 2.2 to 12 million. Exxon-Mobil's president made the 12 million. He is in charge of 59,000 employees and is the leader of the lergest corporation in the world. Does anyone think he makes too much? And what defines "too much"? How come the senate didn't have Tom Cruise in to explain why he made 20-30 million per movie? Do you think Leahy had these same questions for Ben and Jerry when they made their first millions for selling ice cream?
I am a bit sickened by this turn on business. What came out in these questionings was that government made up to 14 cents on the dollar of gas sold at the pump, while the oil companies made about 4 cents profit on the dollar. And the senators didn't even blush at this. They just stayed the course on their attack. Hannah Singer was watching this with me at 6 a.m. Dear girl just scolded the television right along with me!
The only senator I saw who had any sense at all seemed to be Jeff Sessions (I believe of Alabama). This is a new name for me and I'll be listening for more of him....
All we can do at this point right now...is pray.....please, please pray!

I feel like a storybook character today.

It is brisk and fresh outside today. A lovely Saturday morning with an entire day of the unkown before me. I've checked the progress of the gardens and made strawberry-cream scones to share with friends from "over the bridge". They've come and gone, after we'd indulged in harmless gossip and page-turning of shop catalogs.
I've ambled my way to the store where I visited with neighboring shopkeepers and discussed the progress of sales for the week. Things are sloooooow. But I'm still smiling. Why, you may ask? Because, it's brisk and fresh outside today. Silly you!

freshfaced

Do you know the wording, "fresh-scrubbed", which usually implies natural prettiness? It is usually applied to young women. I gotta say that now in my late 40's I have met this saying for the first time in a personal way. If you are in your 40's, go to your bathroom and give your face a good healthy scrubbing. Then, quick! look in the mirror...it only lasts for about 10 seconds, but in that fleeting amount of time, I feel "fresh-scrubbed". I wish there were some way to bottle this. I have no explanation. But my cheeks are rosey, and my skin is creamy. It seems cruel that it is so short-lived. I think my husband is going to have to start standing next to me each morning and evening while I "tidy"up. But then the toothpaste spitting might be a bit of a turnoff.....unless the next saying to make its way to the forefront is to be "spitshine..." Now there's an ugly thought.

tomatoes and oil paints and Ayn Rand

Jedd and I have just put plants and seeds into the first garden we've ever done together. There is much more work to be done, but it was so exciting. It's good for a kid (and his mom) to feel the dirt between his toes to truly appreciate the veggies that appear on the dinner table.

I've been clearing out the old and sprucing up the yard. The pond has been cleaned out and jedd put together a filter with a little fountain and installed it. Now it gives the impression of a bubbling brook. (It also tends to make us all feel the need for the loo)

I spent an afternoon at the garden shop with Janna picking out new perennials for the shady side of the house. Very exciting. Today, I actually planted one of the seven bought. Usually they sit around in pots till they're dead or dangerously close to death before guilt sets in and I stuff them in a hole. This new streak I'm on is holding staying power so far.

We bought a new battery for the camera so I may be able to actually put some pictures up soon.

Tomorrow is a new session for painting classes. I have no theme picked out to paint yet. Ah well, the right thing will pop up. It always does doesn't it? Yeah, I'm loving my life right now...

The current read is "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. It is time for you to read or re-read this classic which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It is such an appropriate book for this age. I heard today that a new government committee is being formed to discuss profit limits for corporations. !? Yeah, Ayn Rand had this fear 50 years ago.