Fathers Day

I love seeing my Jerry with his kids, and the grandchildren he takes on this glow and his voice changes, it becomes softer and he listens to every word. He is so happy in their presence and they all adore him. I am lucky to have been invited into their circle of love, it is a wonderful place to be. Jerry is a father first before all else his children came first, when he was raising them before our marriage his concern for their welfare was the reason I fell in love with him. My children's father was too full of himself to be overly concerned about his children, that was my job. Yes it was my job and it was a job I took very seriously. I could understand Jerry's concern and devotion to his children we spoke the same language, we shared the same concerns, I know I am the same way when my children are around I am mesmerized with their conversations and laughter I love just sitting back and watching them interact with their children.
I remember the first time I saw my son Steven, my first born, I knew him in that moment, I recognized him I knew him and he was mine, I changed from a young woman to a mother that very moment. Raising my three children was my commission, I became a teacher, a care giver I became what ever was needed and when they were ready to step out into the world on their own I had to let go. I raise three independent individuals my role changed and I had to let go, now I do the same thing Jerry does I wait for a call or a visit and I am thrilled when they do call. My heart swells with pride when I watch them, they are my gift to the world and it is a better place because they are here. Mind you they are not perfect they are just good people they are my tribe, they take part of me with them into the future. So whether it is Fathers day or Mothers day we are thrilled to have any excuse what so ever to be with our children. Today was Fathers day and we enjoyed every minute of it, but at the end of the day we hold hands and return refreshed with love and we are happy to be able to return to normal, the house is now quiet, just right for a nap or a good read or maybe some quilting we are refreshed and happy.

June is not busting out all over

It is cold and wet even the slugs are having trouble getting from puddle to puddle, however they have found every one of my squash. I tuck them here and there around the yard and hope for the best, I have lost all of them this year, my dear friend with a green thumb came by today with a new supply of cukes and zucks, it is too late for any pumpkins to mature but if we get a couple of warm days maybe I will a little crop. My tomatoes are still alive but have stopped growing, they also await the sun. It is funny how our mood changes with the suns arrival. Here in the Pacific NW when the sun shines it is glorious, it takes your breathe away. yet when the sun does not shine there is still beauty but nothing compared to when the sun shines. Today was such a grey day even the cats stayed in and slept all day rather then venture out into the rain.
This morning I watched a little chipmunk scamper about the deck somehow he knew the cats were in and it was safe, I say a prayer for his safety each morning, he is so cute and reckless he may have a short life.
I am recovering from my surgery, and I am getting cabin fever, I have visions of escaping in my new car and driving somewhere, anywhere, but alas I just do not have the energy to do it, so I pick away at my quilting and dream of the wind in my hair and my radio blasting good old rock n roll music as I drive somewhere, anywhere in my new green turtle car.
Oh well tomorrow is Fathers day lets hope we have a dry day, so to all of you have a Happy Fathers day

My Heron finally finished

Well he is finally finished and looking pretty good but you should see the other ones they are great, there will be a public showing May 26 at the Gig Harbor City Center then the birds go their separate ways and will spend time at a specific location in the Harbor, mine will be at the Maritime Inn. The birds then go to the Gig Harbor Yacht Club for the big night the Salmon Chanted Evening Auction Sat Sept 18Th, it is going to be a grand party and auction with all proceeds going to our local schools providing art education and hands on experience for the children in our Community; a really good cause.

I would love to have him standing upright but I can not figure out how to fix him so just tip your heads to left and hold it there and imagine him standing in a pool of clear water full of pretty stones and shells

Will this Peacock fly?

I have been working on my Heron, a life size Heron who now resides in my dinning room along with a full size Christmas tree. I was juried into the Salmonchanted Harbor fund raiser for Art in the Schools a noble project indeed and my Bird is not the average heron he is to be Gig Harbor's
Peacock. My oh my does he sparkle and I wonder how he will fit into this up scale Art auction. I have enjoyed the process but I have spent so much time just looking at him, and pondering what to do next I think I must get away for a day to re-focus. We turn them in Thursday he will be ready, he is actually almost completed just some adjusting of feathers and doing his eyes; what I planned is not quite working so back to the drawing board. I have to laugh at myself I just do not know where these ideas come from, and if others will like him? that is the question. It seems like will someone like him enough to buy him. Everyone who has seen him just walks around him saying wow, wow; I'm not sure what that means, he is different to say the least. Well for now I am going to bed early, yes tonight it will be before mid night, tomorrow I will do the final touches and off he goes to wait for the big unveiling at Gig Harbors Civic Center all fifteen of the birds will be have their debut there. From there each one is assigned to a local business until the big Auction, mine will be at the Maritime Inn, so mark your calenders for September 18Th and come to the big fund raiser for Art in the schools and bring your wallets I think you will need them...............Jerry says he doesn't want me to buy him back, he just does not fit our decor two months in the dinning room was enough.

Taxes and Sugar Plums

I have been working on our taxes and, well what can I say, Oh I will be glad when I get this job finished why the delay? you say, well we will have to pay a goodly sum and I like to hold on to our money as long as I can. So tomorrow will be the day.
Why Taxes and sugar plums, our Granddaughter Hailey is staying the night, what a dear little soul she is, she is so willing to help and do what ever I am doing. Her bright eyes taking everything in and what a chit chatter she just talks away telling delightful stories of school and friends. I watched her with her doll and the gentle way she carried it and tucked it in to its bed, you could just see into her minds and know she was treating and caring for a real baby. She even talked softly to her baby as she gently patted its covering, it was such a gossamer moment for me. A pure moment of sugarplum delight.
Grandmothers are blessed to have their grand children around it is a shared blessing because both share a gift of love and understanding; parents sometimes are so busy they miss the special moments, those times when the child flops back on the sofa and tells a story using her arms and bouncing her head in exuberance shares the tale, the comfortable way they fling their bodies totally unaware of their sexuality and feeling safe in that innocence of being a child open to adventure and mystery. Her soul is free from the pain of this world, the cruelty and dangers she may have to face, the reality of growing up and having others hurt and betray you. She will lose that innocence in time and become an adult. She will carry her worries into the future. A future that no longer honors she inner desires to be a mother; that pure and innocent urge to love to be a mother will be tested and she may never get the chance. The young men in her future will not want to marry and carry the responsibility of raising a family. Family structure is breaking the honor of commitment. The dedication of raising children for the future is slipping away, family traditions are neglected, in many cases they are not even being taught in our modern Churches or schools, or in the homes of honorable men and women.
My heart grows heavy thinking about what is ahead for her, these few pure moments I savor will pass they will not be lost, my minds eye I will carry that memory and I will do my best to be there for her and help strengthen her for the future and I hope for more quiet times when we can just do what is natural for two women to share, to be female and share our walk; the old woman and the young walking together sharing their laughter, strengths,and wisdom and their mutual love of one another, that love will hold us together. We will guide each other for the day will come when she sits back watching me, as I talk to myself of memories of the past, she will be the strong and wise one for me I will take her arm for protection. That is why we have family for our walk changes and the time will come for all of us to lean on another younger than ourselves, someone to help us in our final walk.

Natures Easter Egg Hunt

Today I hung Easter eggs on my Christmas tree in the dinning room, yes it is still up I will turn on the lights for Easter and I have put prizes in each egg, the Grand children will get to pick one. One will get a twenty dollar bill the others less I think we will have rain. very cold rain so this will fill the gap if we can't have an outside hunt....anyway Jerry hung eggs on our apple tree and the wind and hale did a number on them, mother nature did her own egg hunt. the kids will be disappointed when they find eggs with nothing but a hole in it. I make Baby Back ribs and a large upside down pineapple cake and Jerry is doing a fruit salad, the rest of the meal will come with the kids.......We will all take hands and give thanks for another safe year and remember what Christ gave so freely to us. Hopefully we will have story time telling of Easters past I always like to do that it helps to connect use to our memories. Our young ones will learn the family history and we will all get a glimpse into each heart.
The dinning room will be a little cramped because not only do we have a full size Christmas tree I have the life size Heron standing in a resin pond, I am to decorate him to be auctioned off for Art in the Schools, it is a really big deal one of the Salmon that was made last year sold for $9000 hopefully some generous person will like mine and bid a goodly amount. There were 16 Artist chosen for this years auction and I was one of them, my buddy in crime Jody was also chosen so we are madly designing quilted Heron's, mine of course will be a Long tall Peacock with beads and sequins ,silk and glitz, Jody's will be a little more traditional. The auction is called Salmon Enchanted evening it is a grand affair and a big deal in our little city of Gig Harbor. They have made thousands in the past to support art in the local schools, the information should be on the web soon giving dates and a little artist recognition.
Well it is 12:30 and I said I would be in bed by 12:00 so off I go to dream of bunnies and eggs and how lucky I am to have such a great family to share Easter with. May you all have a lovely sunny Easter

Tears of Hate

Tears of Hate

Tears and fear run together
Head spins with so many whys
Why so much hate
Who taught the child
Now a man standing with smoking gun
So proud of what he had done
Now an animal on the run
Who paid the bail so he could kill
Tears for the families of the fallen
Weeping for loved ones left alone
Hot tears burn, as new fears fester
Hate feels so natural and right
My God says that is not the way
Love is the healer of broken hearts
Faith is the door to finding new hope
Through prayer I will find my hiding place
True prayer is a powerful weapon for peace,
Yet the pain is so fresh and the blood is not yet dry
Love and hate burns in my heart
Today prayer is not my weapon of choice.

I wrote that verse last fall when four honorable police were executed, my heart is troubled about the seemingly increase in violence towards our men and women in Blue. It is not just the criminals, it is in off handed remarks about getting a ticket or calling them pigs, attaching the cop who fires his gun. You hear it in the media, as they hint of wrong doing by the policeman during a shooting or riot. They are spit on, harassed verbally and physically. The young thugs taunted them to do something wrong. the gangs and thugs all know their hands are tied, the Men in Blue must hold the line. They are not super humans, they are just like us, to expect them to never show emotion is crule. Yes I know they do not have to do it, but who will have the courage ? Who can constantly be emotionless, who else could hold up under those circumstances? What they are required to put up with is inhuman, We treat then shabbily and expect them to run to our aid and protect us.
The sad thing is it is better for them to be killed in the line of duty than to be injured on the job. They suffer the insult of having problems with treatment, long term care and financial burdens and they are treated like second class citizens. There are support organizations set up to help them but we as citizens are not supporting them, and they can not do enough.
Search your heart and seek ways to help, encourage the injured, reach out to the widows and children of the fallen. Give then your respect and support, do it in what ever way you can no matter how small , a kind jesture, a smile, a wave make sure they know you appreciate them.
They are sons and daughters, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters they are part of a family, OUR FAMILY