Month: May 2012

Rainy morning writings

Good morning all! Let me begin by wishing my lovely friend/co-star Christina a very happy birthday! Although her birthday was actually yesterday, we’ll be going out to celebrate tonight. Our little Christina is growing up so fast! Ha! 🙂

I’ve been MIA for a little while. For that I apologize. Life truly has been crazy, with job hunting and the end of my indoor guard season and just life in general. Not trying to make excuses, but it is what it is. However, now that my job hunt is over, I should be able to get myself on a regular schedule, including my blogging! Hooray!

Yes, you heard correctly. I found a job! I don’t want to say too much about it, but it seems like a good fit for me and I am very excited and can’t wait to start.

It’s a rainy gross day out there. The perfect kind of day for snuggling in bed with a good book and a cute kitty. So don’t mind if I do! Have a great holiday weekend everyone. Be safe. See you next week! 🙂

Time for an Art Fix!

For the past two weeks, I’ve forgotten to blog! Adjusting to the transition from a well-ordered life made necessary by my teaching schedule to the complete freedom of summer always takes me a little while. Now, waking up in the morning without having to review lesson plans, record grades, decide what to wear to campus – all of which, by the way, I thoroughly enjoy – is LOVELY!
But what to write on this blog?
I just read Ellen’s most recent blogs – and then Jane’s wonderful words. They both shared such fine thoughts – gardens, parades, and the frightening (to me) phenomenon known as political correctness -all topics to which I want to add my thoughts. But it’s Wednesday morning. Long shadows are creeping across the patio garden as the sun climbs higher. Bessie, the quirky (but much loved) black Lab is sleeping on the couch. Barry’s upstairs getting ready for golf. I am not in a “lofty thoughts” mood. Just want to reread Ellen’s and Jane’s blogs and say “Yes! What you said!” Jane, your wisdom —-I am simply basking in your words that so completely capture my own thoughts, but in words so much better than I could have found. You give me hope for a world about which I have grave concerns.
No lofty thoughts from this blogger today. I’m going to Boyertown to visit Will Dexter’s studio for my “art fix” this afternoon. When my mind gets too clogged with the world that becomes “too much with us,” I need an art fix…a trip alone to a museum, a gallery, Will’s glass studio – somewhere I can silently let the beauty of someone’s creations fill my soul with joy and hope. I leave renewed. My spirit has again found a balance. As long as there are artists,actors, musicians, dancers, poets, there is hope for the world. Everyone needs an occasional “art fix.” I’m off to get mine!

I Love a Parade

And who doesn’t?

Sorry I missed the Armed Forces Parade on Saturday. But it was such a gorgeous weekend for all those garden projects. Saturday was one of those days when you feel good about what you are doing and feel good to be out there doing it.

But I still found parades to enjoy!

On Sunday, as we were leaving RACC Berks Hall, after having seen Kirk Lawrence doing an on-spot portrayal of Picasso as part of the Berks Senior Festival of the Arts, we heard the sound of a marching band. And there was a parade, make-shift as far as I know, with a band in full regalia and many, many people, marching across the Penn Street bridge in the honor of their cause. It stirred the soul.

And then on Monday, we were driving down Main St. in Oley, and met a parade of another sort. There were dozens of beautifully preserved antique cars driving in the opposite direction in that quaint borough. Most drivers and their passengers were dressed in early 20th centure touring garb. We had a short moment to talk to a participant while he was gassing up at Weis in Oley (can they use the same petrol as modern cars do?–didn’t ask that). We learned that they were in Reading for a Hub and Spoke gathering, and on each of several days they drive off in a different direction from the hub hotel of the host city. Each car must be in “like new” condition. And they were–the brass was polished, the paint shown (even on a cloudy day), and the engines purred. It was a spectacle to behold.

So now it is Tuesday, and as I venture out today I will keep my eyes and ears peeled, hoping for another procession. You can never get too much of a good thing.

Ellen

a gardener’s lot

Baseball games may be rained out, but I, as a gardener, am rained in. It wasn’t so long ago that I was lamenting the lack of rain, and since the pump for our outside watering system was burned out, my garden was very thirsty. I was schlepping water by the dozens of sprinkling cans-ful to the neediest of veggies and new plantings. Now all of these botanical beings must feel that they are on a binge.
I think my theme here is that we gardeners are never happy with what we’ve got…always yearning for the Camelot weather–when “rain will never fall ’til after sundown”, and then in just the required amounts. Our daily sunshine should be sparkling bright but not hot enough to burnish.
And yet in spite of it all, looking out at any garden, yard, woodland, meadow, landscape this week–isn’t this one of the most beautiful times of the year? I’m sure we could rival Ireland and have 49+ shades of green. And among the verdancy (I didn’t make that word up–I looked it up)there are brush strokes of purple of the iris and wild phlox, globes of reds and pinks of peonies, and the brilliance of orange from the poppies about to pop. Quite a scene–even if you are looking between the raindrops or through sheets of them.
I could tick off a long list of chores still to be done…starting with the removal of those crafty weeds that are especially adapted to take advantage of the rain…going on to what still needs to be planted, transplanted, and pruned.
But for today, it’s not so bad to be inside…admiring, assessing, and anticipating.

Just a quick note

Hey hey everyone! I know it’s not Thursday and I know I haven’t written in a while. Life got seriously insane for a while! I’m in Wildwood right now with my color guard and percussion line. We were competing to make finals, but alas, we didn’t make it. I’m still super proud of my little ladies because even though they didn’t make it, their last performance was amazing and they went out with a bang! I’m such a proud momma right now! But now I have to cut this short because we’re about to leave for our awards ceremony. Next Thursday, I promise there will be a nice long blog for your viewing pleasure! Ciao! 🙂

May Day ! May Day!!!!!!

Have been so busy winding up the final classes and grades for the semester that I hardly even noticed that yesterday was May Day. I’m not thinking of the USSR celebration and show of force that used to take place on May 1, but the things we did when to celebrate the day when I was a little girl. Every May 1, while I was in grade school, my mother would help me make baskets out of woven strips of colored paper. Then we’d line them with wax paper. I’d pick violets that grew in perfusion in the field next to our house, tie them in littel bouquets with ribbon, and, before I went to school, I’d walk around to the homes in our very small, very secluded neighborhood, ring the doorbells, and put the May baskets on the doorknobs. Happy May Day! It really was a lovely custom, and I always felt special because my birthday is in May – so it was kind of a birthday celebration for me as well.
In my high school, we celebrated May Day by electing a queen from the senior class. Her court was composed of the girls who were the top runners up. We “crowned” the queen at a ceremony on the athletic field, and (HERE”S THE KICKER!!!) the girls in the court wove ribbons around the maypole! Wow! How’s that for a phallic celebration!!!???????
I wish kids still made May baskets, but I’m glad we’ve eliminated the ridiculous May pole ceremony. (And, yes, I was in the court that wound the May pole! I was taller than any other other girls, so as we danced around and wove our ribbons over and under, I was nearly choked by the ribbons of the shorter girls who had trouble raising them above my head!
Back to grades! Can’t wait for summer break!