When We Can’t Tell Them…..But Surely They Know
So much I can’t tell you…..but surely you know. Blue moon rises on this summer night and as I watch, I’m caught in memories of full-moon romps, of little boys rolling in grass lit bright as day, calling out so we wouldn’t miss the silliness. Calling out so we’d be part of your game. We didn’t miss it…..I miss it now. That’s what I can’t tell...
How to Mend a Broken Heart
We learned a few things about our beagle/bassett, Lily, this week. On a long-overdue visit to the vet, we found out she wears a microchip -- and she has heart worm disease. Lily has lived on our farm for three years. She came to us from Florida via Tennessee and we don't know much about her -- except that she's friendly, cute, lovable, very...
Determination, Ducks and Doubt
About determination..... "Stop fighting the current of your life and struggling to be somewhere else. You are exactly where you need to be. This is your (writing) life. There is no other like it." Sage Cohen, The Productive Writer Our family is transitioning -- which is a less painful way to say we will soon be empty-nesters. Well, not exactly...
A “Millennial Mom” Speaks Out
As a mom of “millennials” (adults born between 1980 and 2000 – mine are 18, 20, 26 and 29), I read with interest a couple of essays found on the Internet this week.Best-selling author Rachel Held Evans went viral with her CNN Belief Blog “Why millennials are leaving the church”. A day later, in his Washington Post “On Faith” column, writer...
Trust the Nature of the Seed
It's harvest season for Indiana gardeners. Ten minutes in our little garden last night resulted in a tub full of fresh veggies. Today, I enjoyed (this term is used loosely) freezing green beans, broccoli and cauliflower. Tomatoes are coming on strong, and soon it will be time for salsa and sauce. Though I have spent over 20 years on a farm and...
Broken?
Join me today as I post on Five Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo Baker. *************************** They said it wouldn't last. How do you make something new, something good out of something that's broken? When this divorced 30-something married the handsome 20-something 22 years ago today, there were doubters. We had a lot going against us. My two...
When the Innocent Suffer: Stop the Heartache
“Are you mean?” It's not a question I'm asked often, so when the little girl with the cynical blue eyes asked, I knew I'd better give a straight answer. “I don't think so.” “Are you nice? Are you nice to your kids? Do you ever smack their bottoms?" I told her that I try to be nice to my four boys, but that sometimes moms and dads get angry and...
Catching Rainbows in the Storms of Life
(This one is for you, Uncle Jerry.) Indiana summers are unpredictable. One year, a drought. The next, a deluge. Life is kind of like that, too. Sometimes, we feel as if we're in a desert. At other times, storms rage around us and we fear we may be drowning. But occasionally, when the sun is shining just right in our world, we get rainbows. My...
Namaste, Purl Two: Why I Must Practice Yoga and Knit
The sweat poured down my face as I tried to wrap my arm through my crossed legs, aiming to grasp the hand of my other arm. Sounds impossible, doesn't it? For me, it was -- my attempt didn't begin to match what my yoga instructor was showing us. I smiled through the moisture on my upper lip and reminded myself to breath. Stretch and breath. It...
Getting My Hands Dirty Doing the Hard Work
It was a good evening for a walk. Humidity had dropped, the sky was clear and a sunset awaited at the end of the lane. But first, I had some wrestling to do. Earlier in the day, a good friend had offered me a clump of purple Japanese iris, with a start of Michigan holly as a bonus. How could I say no? So, before the walk, I dragged the iris...