|
An
Early Start on the Gardens
Rolling
Out the Blanket and Lists
The
Apple, My Daughter, Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree
House 37
- Getting Lost and Found on Faith
The Boards, the Basics, and
Bella
Eggs, That Other Life, and Progress?
Pysanki Eggs, Fellowship, and Tradition
Hours Fly By With
Research and Homework
Aren't I Too Old for Homework
ARCHIVES:
January 2006
Oct
2005-Dec 2005
Aug
2005-Sep 2005
Mar 2005-July 2005
Nov.2004-Mar.2005 |
|
March 31, 2006
An Early Start on the Gardens
Midst all this turmoil and excitement, rehearsals continue
and I'm at the place where I know most of my lines, just don't know where
they go! Like the rest of the nation, we're enjoying unseasonably beautiful
weather. I can only assume it will snow in May to keep us on our toes!
This happens every so many years and plants that bloomed early will lose
their pretty petals and focus on root growth.
I have been designing my 1700s kitchen garden and settled on
a Russian Cross look for the
French Intensive garden. Four-by-four
gardening sections, separated by a pebble cross with container gardens at
each tip. The 4x4 will let me harvest through to the center of each
section without stepping on the soil.
The garden produces such a high yield and literally is
maintenance-free, once you've built it. Purchased the seeds for the
vegetables already, and will order fruit and nut trees, as well. I'm
especially anxious to try out the new hybrid "pole" apple trees (Colonades)
specifically created for small gardens. They look strange but
apparently have a great crop yield which is produced on short stems from the
main trunk.
Here's a little economic hint to use when buying seeds.
Most stores put the higher-priced name-brand, higher-count seed packets at
the front of the store, each costing from $1.49 - $2.25. So, make your
selection and accept the fact that you won't need all those seeds in the
packet and go to the back of the store with your choices in hand. In
the back, hidden from easy view, are seed packets with smaller content of
the SAME vegetables etc., you've chosen but at a considerable savings,
priced from $.10 - $.25 a packet! Or, two packets for $3.00 or $.20?
You make the call.
Not every one of your first choices will have a cheaper
companion packet because they are hybrids, but most will and it's well worth
the matching to get your savings. And, to be a good customer, it's only
right that you return all the original packets back in their respective
slots at the front of the store.
In addition to the garden, I've been checking out the
furniture and appliance stores for the best buys and have finally settled on
the items needed. Nothing can be done until contracts are signed and
move-in dates available but the basic work is done. In fact, most of
the gardening will be preparing the beds and fall plantings, since it
doesn't appear as though anything will happen till mid-June and that doesn't
leave much time for many vegetables. But, planning is fun.
March 28, 2006
Rolling Out the Blanket and Lists
Yea! They've accepted my offer and now we're just dickering
over a few things. It's one of the few times I didn't offer a lower
price than advertised. I wanted the house and didn't want to lose it
because of any insults. It was well worth it.
My daughter called and her bid was also accepted.
Looks like we both have very busy springs. This is going to be a great
time for throwing out everything I don't absolutely need at the new place.
I even have stored boxes that are yet to be opened that I brought with me
when I moved in here!.
Goodwill can come collect all my furniture and extra items,
and the new house will get new furniture and appliances. A new
start. How Feng Shui! Everything I have is very old (not antique, just
old) and large. The new place has smaller dimensions and really
requires scaled-down furniture, at least, smaller than what I have now.
But, first things first, moving in and getting the mighty
John Deere mini-tractor. Two-plus acres is a lot to do by hand.
I used to have a big Kubota 13-gear tractor and would use mowing time to
think about the next crops in the garden. Will also have a clippings
attachment and tow-bar. The circle is complete.
Lists surround me, cover the desk and most probably will be
redone twenty more times before everything is right. Even though the
furniture will be new, shelving, contents, and tables will find room in one
of the buildings. There's finally a place to put all the supplies,
etc., that's I've been collecting, getting ready for the final homestead.
Metal shelving and tables into the workshop, craft desk, shelving, and
plastic containers for the craft shop, and order from chaos! Life is
good.
March 26, 2006
The Apple, My Daughter, Doesn't Fall Far
From the Tree
Here I was, all excited, telling my daughter about finding
the house and, to my surprise, she had her own news. She was looking
at houses, too. And, thought she had found one. She started out
methodical, just like her Mom, but finally decided to just cruise around to
see what might be available. It was on one of these treks that she
found her own special place.
An older neighborhood, quiet street, and fully-grown shrubs
and trees. The azaleas were out in full bloom and the sun dappled
through the high cover as she drove me over to see her find. It was
beautiful and in wonderful condition. Very little yard work because
much of it was covered in blooming bushes and ground cover. Here it
was, Sunday afternoon, and almost no noise.
I was definitely thrilled for her and told her I hoped
everything went well with the bank, etc. My daughter is very conscious
of interest rates and will fight for half a point. This can cloud
judgment, sometimes, but she's old enough to handle it, herself.
Monday was the day to sign the contract with my offer and
keep my fingers crossed that it will all work out.
March
23, 2006
House 37 - Getting Lost and Found on
Faith
Okay. I don't know how you feel about turning things
over to the Big Guy, but it has always worked for me and today was another
wonderful example. As you know, I've been searching for the perfect
place -- perfect, in my eyes, which is what counts in this search. And, I
have really discovered my County in the process!
Having looked at 36 houses (yes, 36), it was getting closer
and closer to what I wanted and understanding what was, in fact, available.
I knew, by this time, that development houses were definitely out. Handing a
neighbor a sandwich through an open window was too close for comfort.
Neighborhoods with too many swing sets also put me off -- land was more
important. There were many beautiful places in my own little town but they
didn't beckon to me and I wanted a place that gave me the feeling that I had
come home. That may seem silly to some of you, but I really believe a
house has its own personality and I would keep searching until we found each
other.
But, 36 houses is a lot to look at and I was getting weary.
It had been two weeks since I had turned it over to Him. Maybe I needed to
be a bit more formal in my requests? I had simply said, "Okay, God, you know what I want
and like -- find it! Thank you, very much." That was it. I
didn't have to worry, anymore. Laugh, if you will, it has always
worked for me in the past and there was no doubt in my mind that it would continue to do
so. I'm a firm believer in God knowing me and the way I talk. I knew He
wasn't
going to be fooled by my adopting more formal speech. Nope. He
wouldn't be able to look, for laughing.
Yes, I did do a little cheating. After all, He had
been along on all the trips, listening to my complaints, so it wasn't as
though this would be an intensive archive search for my criteria. So,
armed with pix and stats on House 37, I set out for a little community that
never existed when I first moved to North Carolina, except under the term
"hinterlands" to Raleighites or, to the natives, as the "other end of the
County."
Armed with MapQuest (and, no, it's not perfect!) directions,
I was wandering around the same country roads for about 30 minutes, getting more
and more frustrated. Stopped, again, at the same T-intersection
visited at least five times before, I motioned for the driver of the van
pulling up next to me to roll down her window. I was taking action.
"Do you have any idea where such-and-such a street is located?" "Why,
yes, that's exactly where I'm going," she brightly replied, "follow me."
Yes! Someone was in charge and I, the idiot, was blindly
following this helpful stranger to my journey's end -- House 37. The
only problem with following a perfect stranger through unknown territory is
that they leave you at destination's end and you are, well, still LOST.
First of all, let me tell you that I really liked the house, even though it
was in a development. Situated at the end of the street, abutting a
deep ravine with flowing creek, there was little chance of more housing
going up right next to me, so that was very acceptable. A pseudo-forest on
point-two-fifths of an acre, as seen from the western bedroom window.
Great. I can live with illusion. There would be additions needed, like a wired
workshop and pottery shed, but that was doable in the spacious backyard. The
two swing sets visible in neighboring yards could be avoided, if I placed
everything toward the western edge of the lot. Hmmm, had I found my home?
As it turned out, no. I really was lost, a feeling
very new to me. Having spent a working lifetime putting roughly
1800 miles per month on my vehicle traveling throughout a tri-state area,
I realized I was totally at sea in this rural community. So, I took
off, trying to remember the twists and turns of my earlier copilot and only
succeeded in discovering even more unknown roads. If only I could find
either ocean or mountain by the end of the day to, once again, get my
bearings. Why, oh, why can't they put up road signs for BOTH streets.
Obviously, as far as the NC DOT is concerned, it is assumed that in rural NC
areas one inherently knows which street they are on and only require
identification for those crossing!
Tooling along a typical rural street, looking for anything
familiar, I passed an old-fashioned church and much larger lots. Definitely
not development. And, then, rounding the bend, there it was -- my dream home.
With arms thrown up in the air, I said, "That's what I'm talking about,
God, something like that." And, then it hit me. I was staring at
a FSBO, a For Sale By Owner sign. Fast-checking in the rearview
mirror, I hit the brakes
and backed up. The house was adorable, just the right size. And, there was a
real craft shop/store at
the end of the drive! The five-foot privacy fence prevented a full backyard view, but I didn't care. The information tube on top of the sign
would hold the answers and I prayed it was within my price range. It
was! I could seriously walk the property with interest.
Omigosh! Wired work shop, craft store, right number
of rooms, above-ground pool, two-plus acres -- it never stops! While
walking around the property, the voice of the owner floated over the fence
and, apologizing for being sick, she asked if I would like to see the inside. Yes. Yes.
Within seconds of entering, I knew God had answered my
prayers -- all of them. How, you ask? Because everything I had
specifically wanted to have and/or do with my dream home was here, in this
property. I would never have found it when I first moved to NC because
it hadn't been built, yet. And, I would definitely have never found it
on the realty sites because it was a FSBO, and they weren't listed.
No, this was meant for me, and it was only after being lost that He was able
to work his wonders and show it to me; otherwise, I would have taken familiar roads,
leaving the
area without ever seeing it.
When I told the owner about my turning everything over to
God two weeks earlier, she said she had something to show me, something she had written
two weeks ago in her journal.
There was the entry, "Please send us a woman really interested in
crafts and a writer." He had answered both our prayers and Faith had brought me home.
March 17, 2006
The Boards, the Basics, and Bella
Spring is a time for rejuvenation, either through new
challenges or change. Rarely one to focus on just one project at a time (the
curse of a creative mind), I've hit the jackpot, this year.
The first opportunity is a chance to return to the boards
and work with a director I've always admired, Paul Frellick, owner and
Artistic Director of
Deep Dish Theatre in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
With determination and innovation, Paul has created a unique
theatre experience for shoppers who may have never been to a live theatre
production and are now solid members of this very active and growing
company.
I'll be playing two characters during the May 4-27, 2006
production of Bertolt Brecht's comedic morality play,
The Good Person of Setzuan, an old woman and an
old wife! I am now progressed in my theatrical life from "woman" and
"wife" to the descriptive "old" woman/wife. "Ah, me, this business of
dying," to quote
Fannie Hurst's memorable opening line in Back
Street. Definitely a writer from a different time, but a great resource to
the thinking of the early 20th Century.
Getting back to the basics started with my search for
property with some land for gardening and setting up the pottery shop and kilns.
I'm really tired of stairs and want a small ranch home away from planned
developments. Fifteen-years of rest is enough. Time for
a more bucolic setting. Actually, the bug hits anytime progress
catches up with me and there are more than three traffic lights in the current
town! I'm just an on-the-fringes type of gal.
I've been casually looking since
the beginning of the year but have stepped up the search in earnest, now,
and hope to find just the right one, before long. Gardening has always
been a pleasure and I've really missed the feel of the earth in my hands and
watching things grow under my care. French
intensive gardening has been my choice since the 70s and this time around, I want to
incorporate the new with the look of a 1700s kitchen garden, once I find the
right place.
One of the joys of the internet is how great it is for
saving time and helping you find what you want. By joining just a few realty
sites to look for places in my area, it was easy to print out ones that
answered most of what I was looking for as a final home. A 3-ring binder
will keep it altogether, no doubt about it.
Working as an editor for the
Career Training site at BellaOnline has been quite
an exercise and one, I've discovered, that I really enjoy. Hope to
keep it going for a long time. It would be great if you could pop over and
join my newsletter for early notice on weekly articles. Don't be
afraid to join the
Forum, either. It needs to grow and I can
use your help. So far, it's been mostly me adding content and, frankly,
pretty much talking to myself. Your voice would be greatly
appreciated.
So you can see, this is a very busy spring for me and one
that should keep me off the streets, behaving myself. Right.
March
12, 2006
Eggs, That Other Life, and Progress?
Rediscovering the joy of creating my Pysanki gifts has
filled those few spare minutes in my day with fun and memories. Each
one bringing back so many scenes from what I now refer to as "that other
life." For those of you who have remained with the same partner since
marriage, being single again really is a strange place to find yourself.
Losing a spouse, either through death or divorce, creates another you,
another world, and another direction -- self-discovery and an opportunity to
discover the changes in a world you left at the altar.
Some of us will remain single for the rest of our lives,
discovering the freedom of making choices at whim and not having to answer
to anybody for those choices or our time. But, I really believe this
can only work if you have created a strong support system of outside
interests and people. Choosing to remain single and not becoming a
part of your community, in some way, can bring very depressive results into
your life.
In truth, I've never understood those who can jump from one
committed relationship immediately into another, without taking a year or so
to redefine themselves. For instance, marrying immediately after a
divorce or death seems almost desperate, to me. Marriage creates a you
that needs to be excised before you can offer a whole person to someone
else. Excised, not forgotten. We all carry memories of those who have shared
our lives. But, the new person has the right to expect your full
attention with no comparisons or hang-ups from previous lovers.
How is it possible to skip that process? I don't know.
Many claim to have done it with success; others have been less successful,
and that's what is frightening. Adjusting to the changes that have
taken place in the singles world can be eye-opening, to say the least.
Music, communication, dating patterns, all need to be learned anew and can
be daunting to more timid souls. But, putting yourself out there is
well worth the exercise and, if you know of any singles who don't, try to
draw them into associations that will bring a new world of friends and
activities to them. They may be reluctant, at first, to try new
things, but they will eventually thank you for your help and you will have
taken an active part in their progress toward a new life.
March 4, 2006
Pysanki Eggs, Fellowship, and Tradition
In what seems like another age, Springtime usually found my
daughters and me sitting around the kitchen table decorating Pysanky or
Ukrainian eggs to give to
friends and family on Easter morning. This wasn't a personal family
tradition that I grew up with but a craft I discovered in the early 60's.
It was love at first sight with the preciseness of design and the beauty of
the finished product and I immediately adopted the tradition and made it a
part of our lives. Most especially, I came to enjoy the hours I could
spend with my daughters in a shared craft. Conversation flowed and a new
form of mother-daughter friendship evolved, the kind that comes from
carrying a centuries old tradition forward into the present.
Lying dormant for the past twelve years, the tradition has
been awakened, this year, by my daughter suggesting we renew the tradition
-- and I was delighted. We will also be teaching a few of her friends
the process, which always makes for a fun gathering. Learning the steps is
not difficult, at all, but it can take awhile to feel comfortable enough to
try the more difficult designs. But, time is a friend with a craft
that spans generations.
Dating back to well before 988 A.D., when the
Ukrainians first accepted Christianity (thereby changing the
meaning of the egg's symbols), the Pysanky egg was a Spring festival gift
given to friends offering good health, prosperity, and new hope for the new
year. The colors and symbols chosen have special meaning and, more
subtle, personal, messages can be conveyed by the clever artist based on
those choices. The common belief was that goodness would always prevail over
evil in the world, as long as someone was decorating Pysanka eggs to keep
the tradition alive.
Traditionally, selling one was out of the question but, as
more and more people discovered their beauty, it only made sense to make
them available, in addition to helping many of today's Ukrainians earn a
living. Special stands and containers help preserve their beauty.
And, today, you'll find all kinds of web sites to choose from to get that
special gift.
There are even a few web sites offering their eggs painted
in the Pysanky style on
wooden eggs. The designs remain the same but
this is strictly a commercial venture, in my opinion. Prices are
ridiculously low for the amount of work involved and I can only imagine the
factory conditions of those who create them.
But, why buy, when you make your own? Why don't you
try a new challenge for this Easter season? Basic designs are not that
difficult and you'll love the results! A great site to go to for
supplies and very helpful people is
All Things Ukrainian. As the name suggests, they are not
limited to Pysanka eggs, so take the time to also enjoy the other crafts of
this wonderful culture.
If you want a great step-by-step tutorial, with lots of
tips, helpful information, and designs, the
Learn
Pysanky for Yourself web site is a good starting point. For
even more ideas and pictures that can be viewed full size, check out
http://journals.aol.com/mrsbachelor/AMothersNotes/entries/329
for some of Mrs. Bachelor's gorgeous Pysanky eggs.
And, of course, when I get mine finished, I'll share them
with you, as well.
February 24, 2006
Finally Graduated, So, Please Come Visit
So much has happened in such a short period of time. But,
the big news is that I've finally graduated and am the full Editor for
Career Training at Bella Online. So, do come visit if you
get the chance and, by all means, sign up for the newsletter and that way
you will get notice of each new article posted on Monday mornings!
And, please, join my forum and share your thoughts.
There are quite a few categories to fill with articles and
links, so it will take some building time but I'm really looking forward to
it. There will be Book Reviews, Commuting, Continuing Education, Legal
Issues, Over 50, Personnel & Problems, Raises and Reviews, Skill Building,
Time Management, and Tips & Techniques. So, you can see that I'm going to be
busy.
Theatre work is raising its head, again, and it appears as
though I'm going to be in another production. This will be up in
Chapel Hill and the play is
The Good Person of Setzuan by
Berthold Brecht. It's been a few
months since I've been on the boards, so it's definitely about time.
Since the original play requires a very large cast, I'm sure most of us will
be doubling up. It's going to fun and I wish you could all come.
February 16, 2006
Hours Fly By With Research and Homework
Okay, this has been quite an adventure, so far. I've
really enjoyed the courses from Bella Online and discovered an old dog can
learn a few new tricks. They have a wonderful and very supportive mentoring
program that makes sure you never feel alone while going through the
process. So far, I've been brought up-to-date on plagiarism and copyright,
working with article submissions, links, etc.,
Much of the information was going over things I already knew
because the work is similar to what I've done, here, on my own site; but, I
am looking forward to learning about running a forum, chats, and the other
processes.
My choice was Career Training because the other small
business sites were already taken and this was the closest to what I feel is
reflects my experience. Getting into the web site more thoroughly,
I've come to the conclusion that it's perfect. The subjects are
limitless and I have a backlog of articles that will find a new home!
Research is a deep love of mine and there's going to be
scads of research to keep the site provocative. I hope when I've
finally graduated that you will at least come visit, and sign up for my
newsletter so that you will always know when there's a new article.
I've finished most of the photograph changes for my bride's
photo story and will be posting her actual wedding pictures in the sample
Staria Melody by the end of the month. She still has to send me a few
more that were taken after the actual wedding, but I won't need them for the
sample and I did want you to see that vows were taken and the couple is now
enjoying a happy life in Atlanta. Now, back to the books and research.
Aren't I Too Old for Homework?!
February 8, 2006
Have decided to try another avenue in the writing world.
When offered the opportunity to be an editor of a website for
Bella Online, I
decided to go for it. My category is Career Training and, once I've finished
the training, I will let you know where it's located.
Most of the editors are women and it's a great site for lots
of informational articles and NO pop-ups or flashing banners. The
greatest thing about it is that I retain all rights to my work and can do
whatever I want with it. And, of course, it's an outstanding
opportunity for more visibility.
My biggest joy in life is learning new things and this will
be a first, for me. Having this web site has been a boon and it
certainly makes the training much easier, but there's still much to learn
about managing a live Forum, Chat, Newsletter, and everything else that goes
along with it.
Traffic is high and that's great, too. More folks will
get to see the Professional Breathing Exercises and Staria Melodies. I'm
always impressed by the number of people who have found my exercises
helpful. Their testimonials are great and I know it was a good thing
when I put them together.
Well, I've still got some houses I have to check out and
some homework to do, so I'd better just sign off.
[top]
|
Copyright.-2006 MCRP – Consulting. All rights reserved. |
|
|
Other Writer's
Blogs
Anne Weyman
Lori Widmer
Purlimil's
Kristen King
|
