9-26-09 How Many Trees?

were sacrificed for this load (ten boxes) of paper?!?!?
Today was the "Fall Clean Up Day" at church, when members come and do various chores that need doing around the church property. Since DH has a pickup truck, we were asked to go pick up and bring back this order of paper for the church office. I think we order this much paper two or three times a year... seems like a LOT of paper!!!

9-25-09 Re-strung

I recently re-strung my Lutheran Rose Rosary...
(a gift from my BFF!)
to make it more "pocket friendly!"
I replaced the pink crosses with flat ovals
and the wire it was strung upon with silk thread.
Now it is much easier to carry and use!
Hope my BFF doesn't mind that I made these changes?!?!?



Also drove to Iowa City today and enjoyed lunch at the Olive Garden with DD and SIL.

9-24-09 Viewpoint

On this morning's jog, I loved the patterns in the shadows thrown by the fence!
When I asked DH if he had noticed it, he said, "No, but did you see the deer in the corn and the ground hog in the grass?!?!"

Which got me to thinking...
Altho we traveled the same path, we each saw different things.
DH tends to keep his head UP and his eye on the horizon, distractedly scanning hither and yon so as not to miss anything interesting.
I, on the other hand, tend to keep my head DOWN, concentrating on the path before me so as not to trip or stumble. I miss seeing all the cool stuff he sees, but he also misses the cool stuff I happen to notice! So, when we get together and compare notes, we tend to "complete" each other as we share what they missed.

How do you travel your path? Head UP? or head DOWN? or maybe some other way? Do you share with others what you notice along the path of your life's journey? Do you listen to what they have noticed (but you may not have) on life's journey?

9-23-09 Christmas in September?

The beautiful reds and greens
of today's tomato harvest
remind me of Christmas reds and greens
and the Providence of the Creator...
Such tasty gifts from God's loving hand!

I wish I could find a lipstick the color of these tomatoes!
All the ones I try are too blue.

9-22-09 Red Band

At the recommendation of a dear friend from church (thanks, Frank!), DH and I tried a new (to us) coffee shop this morning called "Red Band Coffee Company" where they make each cup of coffee individually after doing their own roasting of the coffee beans in the German made roasters in the upper left hand photo. The coffee was so smooth and the shop smelled divine! Mmmmm! (You can click on the photo to enlarge it, then click the back arrow in the upper left hand corner to return to the blog.)

9-21-09

I love this photo in today's newspaper!
It really is true, what they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words!"
(You can click on the pix to enlarge it, then click the back arrow in the upper left hand corner to return to the blog.)

9-20-09 Is It Soup Yet?

Sauté veggies...
de-bone rotissary chicken...
mix together...
add chicken broth and noodles...
simmer 1/2 hour...
Soup's ready!!!
Yum! Dinner!

9-19-09 On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!!!

This morning DH and I went to watch the start of the "Taming of the Slough" race for triathletes. It began with a 2 mile row in a canoe or kayak starting between the two orange bouys below...


After the 2 mile row in the slough, competitors hop on their mountain bikes and go biking for 8 miles over some hilly terrain on a nearby island... after which they run through the streets of downtown for several miles. (You can left click on the pix below to enlarge it, then click the back arrow in the upper lefthand corner to return to the blog)


The most important guy at the event (in my humble opinion!!!):

The weather was absolutely perfect for this event. DH and I are thinking of volunteering to help next year. It is really inspirational to watch the athletes!!! Helps motivate me to get out there for my morning run every day!

The rest of the day we went through new homes on the QC Homes Tour which raises money for Habitat for Humanity, and then home to watch the Iowa homecoming football game on TV. Go Hawkeyes!

9-18-09 Pastel Pretty

I found this pastel pretty
in the early morning mist
during my morning jog...
even the sky had some pastels in it.

9-17-09 Fallish Delights

DH and I went to explore a new (to us) apple orchard in the area and found it full of Fallish Delights: pumpkins, painted gourds, Indian corn, fresh apples, caramel apples, hayrides, scarecrows, popcorn balls, honey, etc. I love the colors and smells of Fall. We brought home some apples and pears to enjoy!

9-16-09 Mowing Grass

"Here is a soldier stationed in Iraq , stationed in a big sand box. He asked his wife to send him dirt (U.S. soil), fertilizer, and some grass seed so that he can have the sweet aroma, and feel the grass grow beneath his feet. When the men of the squadron have a mission that they are going on, they take turns walking through the grass and the American soil -- to bring them good luck. If you notice, he is even cutting the grass with a pair of a scissors. Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't stop and think about the little things that we take for granted. Say a little prayer for our soldiers that give and give (and give up) so unselfishly for us. "

The above was an e-mail forwarded to me that filled my heart with gratitude for so many things. I hope it does the same for those who view this.

9-15-09 New Day

Each new day
is a precious gift
another chance
to say "I love you"

9-14-09 Slings

DD will be glad to know that the patio furniture is once again safe to sit upon!!!

Every 7-10 years we have to replace the slings on these 30+ year old swivel rocking chairs (and a chaise lounge) as the fabric tends to weather, weaken and eventually, tear! So, DH spent an afternoon last week replacing the old slings... now they are as good as new! Thanks, sweetie! Now if we could just do something to replace the parts of ME that are wearing out!!!

9-13-09 POPS Concert

Each year the QC Symphony Orchestra opens its season with a POPS Concert in one of the many parks by the Mississippi River. Thousands from the QC and surrounding areas attend this concert! We invited our DD's new in-laws to attend with us last night and had a wonderful evening listening to Steve Lippia sing the music of Frank Sinatra, accompanied by the QC Symphany Orchestra. We shared a bottle of dandelion wine and some finger foods during the course of the evening's concert which ended with a fireworks display. Hearing this music made me mindful of what today's modern music is lacking: great melodies and lyrics!!!

9-12-09 Purple Suction!

My new (on SALE!!!) vacuum cleaner (Dyson Ball~Animal)...
my old vacuum cleaner burned up (literally) about 3 weeks ago!
This new one is very lightweight, easy to maneuver, and has great suction!
LOVE IT!!! AND, it's purple (my fave color)!!!

9-11-09 Remembering

the Fallen... 9-11-2001

9-10-09 In A Fog

9-9-09 Impermanence

The impermanence of all things
is one of the Buddha's teachings
of which I was reminded today
as I drove past my favorite old farmhouse
and saw it in a heap.

9-8-09 Morning Glory

9-7-09 Happy Labor Day!!!

Happy Labor Day weekend!!!


Gotta love those great Labor Day weekend SALES!!!
DH & I replaced our clockwise spinning trimmer (which did a horrible job cutting grass!... well, actually, it DIDN'T cut the grass, just laid it down) with a new counter-clockwise spinning trimmer that actually picks up and cuts off the grass. YAY!
We also got an edger (since our old trimmer was unable to cut the grass for the past three years, the grass had grown several inches over the edges of the driveway and sidewalks). DH had fun putting together and trying out his new "toys" and doing some LABOR on LABOR DAY!

9-6-09 Maize

Corn
As far as my eye can see...

Tomorrow's ethanol
High Fructose Corn Syrup
And fattened calves...
While people around the world go hungry.

9-5-09

Bottled the dandelion wine...
Now we can enjoy a sip of Springtime
All Winter long!!!

9-4-09 Taming of the Slough

Last night, DH and I went to the river to watch the practice runs for the upcoming event:Taming of the Slough... a local race that includes a 2-mile loop in a kayak or canoe in Sylvan Slough... followed by an 8-mile mountain bike course on Sylvan Island... and then a 2-mile run through downtown with an off-road hill climb... (to see if this is something we might enjoy doing NEXT YEAR).
Last night we watched the kayakers/canoers...


This morning we went over to Sylvan Island (see the top photo below) to check out the bike course, and the chain on my bike broke... so much for taking a hybrid bike on a mountain bike course!!! Anyhoooo, we ended up taking the bike to the Healthy Habits bike shop for a new chain and now I'm good to go again! And, came home with 6 bags of used coffee grounds to spread into our new garden... from the coffee shop next to the Bike Shop!!!

9-3-09 Rigidity

Life lessons while jogging this morning:

Note to self...

Being rigid will cause me will crack under pressure.
BE flexible in body, mind and spirit!!!

9-2-09 Clarity

Today DH and I added "clarifier" to the dandelion wine we cooked up this Spring.
The purpose...
To make clear by removing impurities or solid matter: to become clear.

Now if only I could find a "clarifier" for my menopausal mind (!) ...
To clear of confusion or uncertainty: to clarify the mind.
To free (the mind, intelligence, etc.) from confusion: revive clear thoughts.
To make clear or easier to understand; elucidate: to clarify her intentions.

Maybe a few glasses of this wine will help with that?!?!? Ha!
(Tomorrow we add "Stabilizer" and then we bottle the wine! YAY!)

9-1-09 BLT

DH and I picked our first 2 tomatoes
(of those the hornworms didn't eat!)
and made a BLT salad for lunch!
YUM!!!

8-31-09 FootPrints

Footprints along my jogging trail this morning...

Racoon...





Opossum (?... help me out here, dad!)...


Deer...

Turkey...

More turkeys...

Dog...

Quite a few visitors to this trail!

And all these "impressions" etched in stone

got me to thinking...

What kind of impressions am I leaving behind?

What do my "footprints" look like?

What do I leave etched in stone?

What kind of "imprints" make people think of me?

Hopefully, acts of love, kindness and goodwill,

a love of nature, all God's creatures,

the arts and music...

and the treasuring of family and friends!

8-30-09 Sunday Sabboth

In the park
By the Mississippi River
Watching the world go by...

8-29-09 Saturday=Party Time

I must say...I just absolutely LOVE our neighborhood!!!

This afternoon was our annual neighborhood street party (pot luck).
We live in a very diverse neighborhood that we call International Drive
because we have neighbors from Africa, Canada, China, India, Pakistan and Poland...to name a few!

Our annual street parties give us a chance to meet new neighbors
and see how much everyone's children have grown!!!

8-28-09 Mexican Train Dominoes

DH and I keep seeing this couple walking on the trail where we jog, so we invited them over for a "Game Night" last night. We asked them to bring a game that they enjoy playing and they brought "Mexican Train Dominoes" which neither DH or I have ever played, so it was fun learning a new game and enjoying getting to know these new friends.

8-27-09 Directions

Today I made my first mistake while knitting this Shrug, and being a beginning knitter (I'm a life-long crochet-er!), I had no clue how to fix my mistake, so I immediately put the caps on my knitting needles and headed to the local Knit Shop to ask for help and directions in fixing the problem...which they did. It was either that, or rip it all out and begin again, or leave the mistake and end up with a big hole in my Shrug (not an option!).
It got me to thinking... it is said that GUYS are not good at asking for help/directions when they need it, but how many of us GALS ask for help when we need it?!?! Or do we just struggle along, hoping that no one will notice the resulting errors, dropped stitches and holes we leave behind? Today's knitting boo-boo was a gentle reminder to me to seek help when I need it, and that there is usually always someone available to give help when asked! Is there something you need help with today in your life?