My daughter and I are plotting to make a quilt for my middle grandson, her nephew, who will be going off to college in the fall of 2010. We have conferred with him and her creative juices are bubbling away. She has an eye for design and color which I could never realize for myself. We were both thinking along the same design lines to make a quilt similar to the one she gave me two Christmases ago.
This got me remembering when she gave me this eye popping lap quilt. I was bowled over with the beauty and design. It was a real "WOW" surprise, something I had not expected. That line of thinking took me down memory lane to other occasions when I was taken aback with delight !
When as a teacher I entered the "Teachers Fair" representing my school, I was so naive I did not know it was competitive until I got there and was all set up and judges came around. I thought I was just sharing some teaching techniques with other teachers. So, when my name was called as winner I did not realize there was even a prize. I was more like stunned and then the pleasure set in. In my defense this was the first Teachers Fair for our county.
About twenty years ago on Mothers Day my son and son-in-law came up to the lake house with a load of cross ties, chain saws and plenty of energy ! They set about building steps up a hill which before had been a dog trot. When the day was over they had created a most enchanting pathway up the hill. It still delights me when I enter the property, come down the gravel road and the hillside comes into view. It looks so charming and inviting. It is one of those things which left me with one giant warm fuzzy !!!
A different sort of warm fuzzy came my way when I was in my early twenties. Acute appendicitis sent me into the local hospital for surgery. I had told my husband to not let my mother know about this until it was all over as I did not want to worry her needlessly. When I woke up in the hospital bed after the surgery I looked over and there sat my mother waiting for me to wake up. It was one big emotional joy ride for me and of course I began to cry and whimper at seeing her there. It still makes me tear up to think of it.
Last summer some of the posts in the second row of vines in my vineyard had fallen down and I had resolved to try to get them repaired. Before I could get around to it I was leaving the property to go into town and a new acquaintance had brought some helpers and they were working in the hot sun replacing posts and setting it all right again. There must have been twelve posts that they replaced. I had already told this gentleman that he could have all the grapes he wanted for his wine making project. I had no idea he would repay me by doing this work. It was six hours of hard work in the hot sun, and to be surprised after the fact was very gratifying.
My neighbors have surprised me with little things which were unexpected pleasures, like the bow hunter winding in my dock when he noticed it needed to be done. My neighbor across the way appeared with a large bag of figs which I was happy to receive as my tree had produced very little that summer.
My friend Bob who helped me around the place doing things I could never do myself, would often come up to my house with his right hand behind him and say " I have a little surprise for you". It was usually some edible treat like strawberries or an early tomato from his garden. He also came up with some creative ideas for ways to improve the appearance of the property. He is gone now but I still have some lovely creations he made with large flat rocks. Two are in the curve of the road and help to define the curve as well as protect my flower beds behind them.
In front of my house, and below the road, he made a long wall divided by steps made from huge flat rocks. Above the wall is now planted perennials which present themselves in due season and when they bloom are framed by Bob and natures handiwork, giving me pleasure over and over again.
One act of kindness which has enriched my life in more ways than I could ever tell, was being given a computer by my daughter and her husband. They just brought it up and got it all installed and began to educate me on using it. I can remember Al Gore talking about the information highway but I had no idea what he meant. Now I know and it has changed the way I live and even carry on business. When my son brought up a printer, installed it and showed me how to use it, I was able to expand my everyday use of the computer in so many ways. I do not know how people live who do not have a computer !! Just as I cannot imagine how my mother coped without being able to drive a car.
It is comforting to be able to relive these moments and enjoy the changes brought about by the many unexpected surprises which have threaded their way into my life. In Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche Dubois makes the comment, "I depend upon the kindness of strangers". In my life I can say I am enriched beyond measure by the kindness of family and friends.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Winding Down
Many surprises came my way this Christmas season. It started off with the arrival of a live Christmas tree with accompanying lights and birds for decoration. My daughter has sent three of these to me before and all three were planted out front and are thriving, not growing fast but are healthy and happy where they are planted. They are Alpine Spruce and have a conical shape with small needles and a nice " fragrance".
My next surprise was to go out my entrance and see that my mailbox had been decorated. I do not usually decorate it so I began to wonder who had done this. My neighbor had been seen walking down the road with greenery in her arms so the secret was out and I knew it was our new neighbor from California. I called her and indeed she was the Christmas elf . The call ended with an invitation to her home to have Christmas Eve dinner with her, her husband and visiting daughter. It proved to be a very interesting meal with foods I had not eaten before. They are steeped in Norwegian tradition and I got to see her amazing Santa collection gathered from all over the world. I had expected to be staying at home so that was a fun surprise.
Normally during Christmas season I have only one day with my family but this year we had two days, with a lot of games and laughing and good memory building. The visit I had not expected occurred the day after Christmas when two friends from my early days in Atlanta came by to see me . I had a tea pot which had been her aunt Martha's. My friend had let me take it home in 1978. I had always felt it should be with her as a memory of her aunt so on this day I gave it back to her to take home. I had enjoyed it all this time and at some point the lid had been cracked but it was a precious family treasure all the same.
Now that the visiting is over, things need to get back to normal, an adjustment in thinking has to take place. Some are going back to their jobs, others taking trips planned for during school break.
We get back to a normal routine pretty fast just by responding to the things going on around us, whether it is children, spouses, or every day events. The unwinding takes a few days and probably does not get us back on target until after we say good-bye to the old year and take up the new one. It will not be as easy to write 2010 on checks, etc., as it was to write 09 for 2009.
There will be seed catalogs coming in and income tax reminders and in my case still some bulbs to be planted. The new year will shake down and settle down and my Daphne will be blooming and greeting me with the most heavenly fragrance ever. The red Camellia is already starting to bloom and the new Yuletide sasanqua is settling into the new spot on the west side of my house. Before I know it the 100 daffodils I planted down near the foot bridge will pop up and make a glorious yellow mass to move and sway with the breezes. It all sounds so attractive to me that I am already eager to get into it all and try some new things for the spring and work my way into the summer. I need to plant a lot more cucumbers to use for the bread and butter pickles which has made a lot of friends for me. Christmas will soon be another fading memory but I hope I never forget the fun we had again this year.
My next surprise was to go out my entrance and see that my mailbox had been decorated. I do not usually decorate it so I began to wonder who had done this. My neighbor had been seen walking down the road with greenery in her arms so the secret was out and I knew it was our new neighbor from California. I called her and indeed she was the Christmas elf . The call ended with an invitation to her home to have Christmas Eve dinner with her, her husband and visiting daughter. It proved to be a very interesting meal with foods I had not eaten before. They are steeped in Norwegian tradition and I got to see her amazing Santa collection gathered from all over the world. I had expected to be staying at home so that was a fun surprise.
Normally during Christmas season I have only one day with my family but this year we had two days, with a lot of games and laughing and good memory building. The visit I had not expected occurred the day after Christmas when two friends from my early days in Atlanta came by to see me . I had a tea pot which had been her aunt Martha's. My friend had let me take it home in 1978. I had always felt it should be with her as a memory of her aunt so on this day I gave it back to her to take home. I had enjoyed it all this time and at some point the lid had been cracked but it was a precious family treasure all the same.
Now that the visiting is over, things need to get back to normal, an adjustment in thinking has to take place. Some are going back to their jobs, others taking trips planned for during school break.
We get back to a normal routine pretty fast just by responding to the things going on around us, whether it is children, spouses, or every day events. The unwinding takes a few days and probably does not get us back on target until after we say good-bye to the old year and take up the new one. It will not be as easy to write 2010 on checks, etc., as it was to write 09 for 2009.
There will be seed catalogs coming in and income tax reminders and in my case still some bulbs to be planted. The new year will shake down and settle down and my Daphne will be blooming and greeting me with the most heavenly fragrance ever. The red Camellia is already starting to bloom and the new Yuletide sasanqua is settling into the new spot on the west side of my house. Before I know it the 100 daffodils I planted down near the foot bridge will pop up and make a glorious yellow mass to move and sway with the breezes. It all sounds so attractive to me that I am already eager to get into it all and try some new things for the spring and work my way into the summer. I need to plant a lot more cucumbers to use for the bread and butter pickles which has made a lot of friends for me. Christmas will soon be another fading memory but I hope I never forget the fun we had again this year.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Past
This Christmas Eve I was awakened by Christmas music on my radio. As I listened, I began to remember the events of this time in my own life and that of my parents and siblings.
My parents and especially my father wanted Christmas to be a happy time for their children. I think this stems from the fact that as they grew up their Christmas memories were not as they would have liked to remember. I do recall that as a child my father had wanted a little red wagon, and he never got it. Why, I am not sure. It may have been financial constraints in a large family or the fact that in the late 1800's the custom of gifting was not the main focus in families struggling to survive.
I recall special gifts at Christmas when a young child, as the time my brother and I both received tricycles and we rode them around inside the house. I believe we both had mumps at the same time as we had the tricycles. That was my earliest memory of gifts for me. I do not recall any talk or events surrounding "Santa Claus". It was simply a Christmas gift from our parents.
On a different Christmas my father had an oak doll bed made for me. It is one sturdy piece of furniture. I used it as a child and then my daughter used it when she was young. When her first child was expected I passed it on to her, but alas little boys do not care for doll beds. At this time the doll bed sits in my north bedroom awaiting some repairs on one of the legs. I could not pass it on to either of my three grandsons, so it is waiting for a great granddaughter to one day join the family.
On a different occasion my father had for me a gold necklace with a heart, anchor and cross attached to it. I have spoken of that before. Unfortunately I do not have all of it, only the tiny cross which rests in my jewelry box.
One Christmas my father surprised my mother with a new car. That one is a little strange as she did not drive !! On another Christmas -perhaps to make up for that time - he presented her with a beautiful cherry secretary. That was certainly more appropriate for her and she put it to good use. As far as I know it is still in the family perhaps with one of the grandchildren. I do know that my sister (the artist) at one point painted it yellow ! She liked to use color and even painted her maple bed a gray color. I know where that is as I sleep on it each night !
When I was very young I was given some money to spend for family members for gifts. I was limited to 10 cents per gift. The only gift I remember buying was monogrammed handkerchiefs for my father. I remember that as I really goofed up. Perhaps because we called him "DAD", I got handkerchiefs with a "D" monogrammed on them. Needless to say, my shopping was not supervised. My face is still red ! I had only heard him called Dad or Mr. Matthis as in my family my mother did not call him by his first name. She had other pet names for him. One was "Mister Blister". I don't know where that came from.
The thing I remember best is that when we were all older we celebrated Christmas as a family on Christmas Eve. That is when we had a huge meal and all of the extended family would be there and gifts were opened. Even if you had a date for that evening it had to wait until the main party was over. The reason for the celebration on the night before was so the grandchildren could be at home or with their other grandparents on Christmas Day. That custom is a natural progression as I see it happening today with other families.
Wherever you are and however you celebrate, in a large family or a small family, it is a special time so hold it close to your heart for it becomes a part of you forever.
My parents and especially my father wanted Christmas to be a happy time for their children. I think this stems from the fact that as they grew up their Christmas memories were not as they would have liked to remember. I do recall that as a child my father had wanted a little red wagon, and he never got it. Why, I am not sure. It may have been financial constraints in a large family or the fact that in the late 1800's the custom of gifting was not the main focus in families struggling to survive.
I recall special gifts at Christmas when a young child, as the time my brother and I both received tricycles and we rode them around inside the house. I believe we both had mumps at the same time as we had the tricycles. That was my earliest memory of gifts for me. I do not recall any talk or events surrounding "Santa Claus". It was simply a Christmas gift from our parents.
On a different Christmas my father had an oak doll bed made for me. It is one sturdy piece of furniture. I used it as a child and then my daughter used it when she was young. When her first child was expected I passed it on to her, but alas little boys do not care for doll beds. At this time the doll bed sits in my north bedroom awaiting some repairs on one of the legs. I could not pass it on to either of my three grandsons, so it is waiting for a great granddaughter to one day join the family.
On a different occasion my father had for me a gold necklace with a heart, anchor and cross attached to it. I have spoken of that before. Unfortunately I do not have all of it, only the tiny cross which rests in my jewelry box.
One Christmas my father surprised my mother with a new car. That one is a little strange as she did not drive !! On another Christmas -perhaps to make up for that time - he presented her with a beautiful cherry secretary. That was certainly more appropriate for her and she put it to good use. As far as I know it is still in the family perhaps with one of the grandchildren. I do know that my sister (the artist) at one point painted it yellow ! She liked to use color and even painted her maple bed a gray color. I know where that is as I sleep on it each night !
When I was very young I was given some money to spend for family members for gifts. I was limited to 10 cents per gift. The only gift I remember buying was monogrammed handkerchiefs for my father. I remember that as I really goofed up. Perhaps because we called him "DAD", I got handkerchiefs with a "D" monogrammed on them. Needless to say, my shopping was not supervised. My face is still red ! I had only heard him called Dad or Mr. Matthis as in my family my mother did not call him by his first name. She had other pet names for him. One was "Mister Blister". I don't know where that came from.
The thing I remember best is that when we were all older we celebrated Christmas as a family on Christmas Eve. That is when we had a huge meal and all of the extended family would be there and gifts were opened. Even if you had a date for that evening it had to wait until the main party was over. The reason for the celebration on the night before was so the grandchildren could be at home or with their other grandparents on Christmas Day. That custom is a natural progression as I see it happening today with other families.
Wherever you are and however you celebrate, in a large family or a small family, it is a special time so hold it close to your heart for it becomes a part of you forever.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Never Too Old
We had our first really cold temperatures last night, below 32 in Georgia seems really cold.
If you have a choice, you wonder if it is worth it to get dressed, brave the cold and start the car.
Well, this morning it was worth it. I scooted into Sunday School at the last minute, but still ahead of about six other people. I rushed in ahead of one gentleman who, likes me prefers to sit near the door. There was some good hearted laughter when I took the only seat next to the door, saying to the man in back of me, "Now you know why I was walking so fast".
Our pastor is our teacher and he is always interesting. We have been studying the books of the Bible as a whole in overview fashion. He had us turn to the front of the Bible where all of the books of the Bible are listed. Using that and a chart on his blackboard he spoke of the main divisions of the books. The first books are all about history of the Israelites. The middle books are called the books of wisdom and the last part are prophetic books.
Today he was focusing on the Psalms, saying we are not sure who wrote them. Some we know were written by David, perhaps others by Solomon and others living in that time frame. He asked us to share our favorite Psalms. The first lady who spoke mentioned Psalm 22. The comments ahead of this one says "Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility". I thought this was interesting and predictable. This lady has often expressed bitterness, loneliness and despair regarding her life.
The one I offered up as a favorite of my father was 119. It extols the glories of God's Law. I like it also as it seems to be full of good things, encouraging thoughts. It happens to be the longest book of the Psalms.
Someone mentioned the 23rd which is a favorite of so many folks. Our teacher mentioned how it compares God as a shepherd caring for his sheep. He spoke of the anointing of oil as shepherds did for their sheep. Now, I had never thought of that before so at the end of the class I had to ask about that. Our teacher said the shepherds put oil on the head of the sheep to calm them down, and compared that to the soothing effect God can have on us. Another one said she had read that the oil on the sheep was to kill the parasites which seemed to be on the sheep. Hmm
Another member brought up Psalm 117, the shortest one, a "Universal Call to Worship". It is easy to see how that one might be sung or recited at any service the Israelites might be having in the Tabernacle. Psalm 100 was our pastor's favorite, a Psalm of Thanksgiving.
I think most students of the Bible have their favorite books, verses, and Psalms which they can quote and which give them comfort. Mine has always been "Oh Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches" Psalm 104 verse 24.
Now one would expect that from a gardener, don't you agree?
I am always amazed when I learn some new fact and can tie it in with something familiar, like the sheep getting anointed with oil for their comfort and to calm them down, plus killing those pesky parasites!!
If you have a choice, you wonder if it is worth it to get dressed, brave the cold and start the car.
Well, this morning it was worth it. I scooted into Sunday School at the last minute, but still ahead of about six other people. I rushed in ahead of one gentleman who, likes me prefers to sit near the door. There was some good hearted laughter when I took the only seat next to the door, saying to the man in back of me, "Now you know why I was walking so fast".
Our pastor is our teacher and he is always interesting. We have been studying the books of the Bible as a whole in overview fashion. He had us turn to the front of the Bible where all of the books of the Bible are listed. Using that and a chart on his blackboard he spoke of the main divisions of the books. The first books are all about history of the Israelites. The middle books are called the books of wisdom and the last part are prophetic books.
Today he was focusing on the Psalms, saying we are not sure who wrote them. Some we know were written by David, perhaps others by Solomon and others living in that time frame. He asked us to share our favorite Psalms. The first lady who spoke mentioned Psalm 22. The comments ahead of this one says "Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility". I thought this was interesting and predictable. This lady has often expressed bitterness, loneliness and despair regarding her life.
The one I offered up as a favorite of my father was 119. It extols the glories of God's Law. I like it also as it seems to be full of good things, encouraging thoughts. It happens to be the longest book of the Psalms.
Someone mentioned the 23rd which is a favorite of so many folks. Our teacher mentioned how it compares God as a shepherd caring for his sheep. He spoke of the anointing of oil as shepherds did for their sheep. Now, I had never thought of that before so at the end of the class I had to ask about that. Our teacher said the shepherds put oil on the head of the sheep to calm them down, and compared that to the soothing effect God can have on us. Another one said she had read that the oil on the sheep was to kill the parasites which seemed to be on the sheep. Hmm
Another member brought up Psalm 117, the shortest one, a "Universal Call to Worship". It is easy to see how that one might be sung or recited at any service the Israelites might be having in the Tabernacle. Psalm 100 was our pastor's favorite, a Psalm of Thanksgiving.
I think most students of the Bible have their favorite books, verses, and Psalms which they can quote and which give them comfort. Mine has always been "Oh Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches" Psalm 104 verse 24.
Now one would expect that from a gardener, don't you agree?
I am always amazed when I learn some new fact and can tie it in with something familiar, like the sheep getting anointed with oil for their comfort and to calm them down, plus killing those pesky parasites!!
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