meg's garden

Sweet Sunday

2011-08-21T14:33:00.001-07:00

A true day of rest, so necessary to body and soul
Time spent in fellowship and worship
A simple meal taken in leisure at home
Pleasant reading, quiet music, simple knitting
Call out to step away from the rush and bustle,
trying to catch up on all the tasks left undone,
and just rest and be in the moment
This moment, full of joy and contentment
Three cats and a new pillow are waiting
For me to join them

Repost #2

2011-08-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

I don’t talk much about my husband Chris, other than peripherally as a companion on my adventures or fall-man for my hormonal rants. He really is a Prince among men- he is the bucket man when my canoe is leaking, my own combination of court jester, unwitting sidekick, & personal cheerleader. He is God’s idea of the perfect compliment to my taciturn personality- outgoing, accepting, willing to jump into new situations- in many ways, still young-at-heart, though his body is beginning to disagree. Although I am a very independent person, who treasures privacy & solitary pursuits, my world would be incomplete with out Chris in it- he is the Yang to my Yin.

This being said, I want you to know he has been a big…whiney…baby! I had my medical overhaul last year- hysterectomy, physical therapy, gum surgery, & 3 root canals; I spent hours, week after week, in various medical/dental facilities, taking care of what needed to be done. This is going to be Chris’ year; in the past two weeks, he has been to the eye doctor, the dentist, & his new primary care physician. I made the appointments (he won’t do it himself- he “forgets”- which is why he hasn’t seen a dentist in 3 years), handed him the list of times & addresses, & said “Be there.” You would have thought I’d served him with an audit notice- “Why do I need to go to (insert name of whichever office)? My (eyes, teeth, back/shoulder) don’t hurt that badly!” Being a sympathetic, compassionate wife, I told him to suck it up & quit whining.

First was the eye doctor. Eighteen months ago, Chris’ arms finally got too short for him to be able to read the newspaper, so I sent him off to the eye doctor for the first time since he was in high school. Two hours & $265 later, he was the proud owner of two pairs of reading glasses- one for work & one for home. Last month, while wandering around Santa Fe, Chris lost one pair of glasses, so I made an appointment to get them replaced at a different place then last time. The new doctor examined him, tested for glaucoma, & said, “You don’t need a prescription.” Chris was a little flummoxed- he can’t read without his glasses. The doctor walked out of the office, returned with a pair of glasses, & told Chris to try them on; they were perfect, just like his other pair. The doctor then told him that they were the magnifying glasses you can buy at most discount stores, next to the sunglasses. They cost maybe $12.00 a pair! The doctor told him these would be fine for a number of years, until the highest magnification won’t work for him anymore. I’m equally thrilled & ticked off- if he loses another pair, it won’t cost much to replace them; on the other hand, what I paid 2 years ago, he could have had eighteen pairs of glasses!

Last week was the dentist. Chris has had something rather smelly going on in his mouth since December, which needed to be addressed, & I wanted him to get an estimate on repairing his front teeth. The top four are all badly chipped along the bottom edges; they have been repaired a couple of times, but are broken again. It is to the point that Chris will barely open his mouth or smile, which is completely out of his nature. Since he has been to the dentist in three years, I was expecting major work or repairs, since all his molars are baby teeth & will eventually wear out. Surprise! He had no cavities, & doesn’t need root canals or deep cleaning- the smelly thing was a hygiene problem. Bad news is- the front teeth repair is considered a “cosmetic procedure” by our insurance, so the out of pocket is going to be- gulp- around $3200. He came home growling about learning to live with “looking like a hillbilly”, which I promptly stopped. I’m not vain about much, but I will spend whatever money is needed on my teeth; therefore, I’m not about to let my husband walk around feeling embarrassed by his appearance. I told him we might have to do it over a couple years- two this year & two next- but his teeth will be repaired!

Today, he is off to the new primary physician. He has been complaining of elbow & shoulder pain for months, but instead of seeing a doctor, he’s just been eating bottles of ibuprofen. I finally had enough last week, after he grabbed his arm & grimaced with pain ten times in one evening- I made the appointment & told him to be there early to fill out paperwork. He went out of the house this morning, grumbling about having to leave work early & fight traffic, blah, blah, blah- my comment was, “Would you like a little cheese with that whine?” My Prince was not amused.

Repost #1

2011-07-29T22:33:00.000-07:00

Looking to get my Bloggy-Mojo back, after spending entirely too much time playing games on FB (blush), so here is a very early entry when I started blogging 5 long years ago!

“101 Things About Lil’ Old Me”

I arrived in this world April 1963
I was born in Austin, Texas
My family are long-time Texans; Dad’s family arrived in 1840, Mother’s in 1665
My older brother & I are the first generation to be raised outside of Texas
My parents divorced when I was a year old
Yes, it did effect my relationships with men
Mother & I moved to California in 1965
Dad & my brother moved to New Mexico
I would like to visit Austin, since I have no memory of it
The name I answer to is not meg
meg is an acronym of my legal name
I like my natural name- I just like the anonymity better
I have 3 brothers & 2 sisters
I’m the second oldest
But everyone treats me like the oldest
I was always a serious child
My dad said I was born an old lady
I’ve gotten younger as the years go by
I have Chris to thank for that
I’m really a shy person
People laugh at me when I say that
I’ve been known to talk the hind leg off a donkey
But only around people I know
I have a dry sense of humor
I can also be very sarcastic
I don’t think this is always a good thing
But it is how I’m wired
I grew up in Berkeley, with my mom, step-dad & 3 younger siblings
No, we were not hippies
I do remember the student riots & smell of tear gas
We were rather well-to-do
We children weren’t aware of this
I was the only one of my siblings to go to public school
My step-dad & I didn’t get along when I was growing up
When I was 16, I moved to Kansas to live with my Dad & brother
It was a good thing- I didn’t know my Dad very well
I met my first husband 3 months after I moved to Kansas
Yes- I’ve been married twice
I met both my husbands in the same year- Chris in Feb & the other in Dec
I got married when I was 19
It wasn’t a bad marriage, just not a good one
We had 2 children- Robb & Jessica
My first husband is a nice man, but not the right one for me
I was divorced a week before I turned 25
I married Chris 4 months & 10 days later
It was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken
It was the best decision I ever made
We lived with my mother-in-law for the first 18 months of our marriage
Fortunately, I love my mother-in-law
I raised my daughter & my ex-husband raised Robb
It was the most difficult choice I ever made
I still second guess myself about that decision
Ultimately, I think it was the right one- Robb is a terrific man
It took me 2 years to get pregnant with Sam
I had a lot of problems during that pregnancy
I gave birth- naturally- to a 10lb 1oz, 23 inch long baby
We wanted another child, but the doctor didn’t think it would be a good idea
I didn’t think it was such a good idea either
I love my children, but sometimes I think I should have stuck to cats
I have naturally curly hair
It’s short, dark brown & liberally sprinkled w/white
I made peace with my hair a long time ago
I’m the shortest one in my family
I’m the only fat one in my family
I’m also the only one in my family without high cholesterol
I love to dance
I’m a pretty good dancer
I love to sing
I’m pretty good at that, too
I studied French in grade school
I studied Spanish in high school & college
While I can understand a little French & Spanish, I speak only English
This is one of my biggest regrets
I have a math brain- I think in numbers & patterns
My husband & daughter don’t understand this- they think I’m weird
My sons do understand this- they think I’m cool
I am intelligent & educated, but I don’t consider myself an intellectual
I graduated with a 3.89 GPA
I got A’s & B’s without too much effort
I have a photographic memory
But the lens is getting cloudy
I enjoy learning
I would like to finish a Bachelor’s degree, but I can wait
I’ve always had an active imagination
I entertain myself while walking with daydreams, mostly about winning the Lotto
Since I rarely remember to play, I can only daydream
My favorite color is green, but I rarely wear it
My style is rather static- skirts, slacks, loose tops & flats
My daughter thinks I look frumpy
She’s probably right, but I like being comfortable
I need to lose weight
My ankles pop & crack every time I walk
I have osteoarthritis
I mostly ignore it, but it’s getting harder
I really want to travel
I am a born-again Christian
I have been since I was 21
I was raised in a family of atheists/agnostics
My grandmother taught me about God

100. I’m the black sheep of the family

101. That’s okay with me

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

Spring 2011, Part One

2011-05-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Just to show that not everything in accounting is serious business

Our boss' office on April Fool's Day

Months of searching & dithering...

My Mother-of-the-Groom Dress

Easter/Passover/Birthday/Mother's Day Dinner in Berkeley

Grand M and Malia Mei

Rehearsal Day came in with pouring rain (remnants of the May tornadoes)...

that is a 6-inch deep "lake" on Siesta Beach

...and ended looking like Paradise

A year ago today...

2011-02-04T23:01:00.000-08:00

...we met for the first time.
It was just an ordinary day, cool and overcast, filled with the usual activities, and ending with another in a long line of interviews~ who knew that love was coming into my life.
I can't say I was won over by stunning good looks~ first impressions said "modest, plain, and dated". After a few minutes getting to know each other, I was able to see beyond the outward appearances into a heart full of welcome, comfort, peace, and friendship.
As I drove away, I knew that we were meant to be together.
A year has passed; I have seen God's grace become manifest, convoluted and treacherous paths made smooth, promises made and fulfilled, dreams and hopes made reality. We are together each day, morning and evening, and I am humbly grateful for the unexpected delight and friendship I have found.
I have found my House of Belonging

Oh, all right sigh

2011-01-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

Have to give in~ it is Winter.
I am a fan of Winter in theory~ home nesting, snowy landscapes, hot buttered rum all sound wonderful.
In reality? Not so much.
I can never seem to keep warm~ which is surprising, given my ample layer of natural insulation.
It's been well over 2 weeks since I've seen sunshine~ partly because I've been going in extra early to cover vacationing co-workers (yes, that is plural~ whoever approved that should be boiled in oil), but mostly because we've had thick tule (ground) fog & overcast skies.
While we don't often see snow here in the Central Valley, the temperatures get quite nippy~ particularly at 5:30 am, when I'm out walking when I'd much rather be snuggled in bed with the cats.
This morning, it was 27 degrees; thanks to some dimwit who still has their sprinklers on summer timer, I did a passable impression of Scott Hamilton gliding down the sidewalk when I hit a patch of black ice. No injuries, thank goodness~ just a few jarred joints from the energetic windmills I did to keep upright.
One positive aspect of the season~ I can indulge my inner "homebody" without anyone expecting me to be going and doing in the bad weather; when the guys get cabin fever, I can send them off and have the house to myself. Reading, knitting, blog browsing, napping~ all the things that comfort to an overworked spirit.
But I am still counting the days until Spring.

Home Keeping Mission Statement

2011-01-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

My goal for today, prompted by a visit to Home Sanctuary (click here, or see the sidebar), was to focus on what I want to accomplish with my homecaring tasks; it's a work in progress, but I'm pleased with how it is coming along.

“To treat my home like the precious Gift that it is

To take care of the little things right away, instead of putting them off until later (which rarely comes)

To make each room an organized, tidy, and peaceful space to truly live in by completing one "small thing" each day.

To clear out items which are no longer useful, and establish a "place" for everything in my home.

To apply gratitude, simplicity, order, harmony, beauty, and joy to each aspect of my life

To set aside the ideas of perfection, and enjoy the Blessing that is my Home”

Prayer for a New Year

2011-01-01T11:17:00.001-08:00

Lord,

There are many uncertainties in our world but what matters most will never change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

We believe You are with us, for us, and surrounding us with Your love. So do not fear, for I am with you... I will strengthen you and help you. Isaiah 41:10

No matter what happens, You will guide us and fulfill Your purposes for us. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Even in hard times we can be confident that we will have victory through you. In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

We trust you will take care of us and bless us in more ways than we can imagine.
God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

We give each moment and every day to You. Most of all, we give ourselves too.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 5:10
Amen.

--by Holley Gerth

At the end of the day...

2010-12-31T20:34:00.001-08:00

Well, that's not quite how we are spending this New Year's Eve~ tonight we're garbed in flannel & sweaters, watching the Marx brothers, & enjoying the delicious dinner my darling hubby made while I was at work~ pork loin, roasted veggies, & mashed potatoes, paired with homemade wine & Greek Fortune bread from our kind neighbors.
~~~
I hope you enjoy a blessed and safe celebration~ I can hardly wait to see what the Good Lord has in store for us in the New Year

Image(s) courtesy VintageHolidayCrafts.com

Joy to the World

2010-12-25T09:17:00.000-08:00

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love

~
My mother-in-love is home
My children are home
I am in my own home
God is Good

Prayer Request

2010-12-21T20:10:00.000-08:00

My mother-in-law was admitted to the hospital today, with severe bronchitis and congestive heart failure~ please hold her up, along with her sons.

Autumn Adventures

2010-12-19T19:41:00.000-08:00

This free slideshow design created with Smilebox

Are you ready for Christmas?

2010-12-09T22:24:00.000-08:00

Well, the house is mildly decorated inside & out, the first of the holiday parties has been enjoyed, & I have an idea what I'm going to do to get ready for guests that arrive in less than two weeks~ beyond that, I am not even close to being ready.
Shopping is on board for the next few days~ I need to replace a lamp (Angus, the new cat, got a little too rough & tumble), put some blinds in the craft/guest room (my MIL likes the room dark at night), & look for some inspiration regarding the youngsters & in laws.
Wish me luck!

As if I don't have enough to do...

2010-12-08T20:54:00.000-08:00

Amongst my blog wandering over the past few months, I discovered Lucy at Attic 24; her style & life are so very different from my own,~ she's a "hooker"*, a stay-home mother with young children, & lives in a small English village~ but I always feel cheerful after a visit.
She has inspired me so dig out my crochet hooks, sport-weight wool, & some assorted beads to try out her recent tutorials on Christmas decoration~ these are so bright & cheerful, I just couldn't resist giving it a whirl. I figure if they don't work out for me, they can always be gifted!

* someone who crochets

Mama needs a new phone...

2010-12-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

Seriously~ my current cellphone is about 5 years old, the battery has trouble holding a charge for more than a day, and the browser is so out-of-data, I can't retrieve my hotmail anymore.
I more than qualify for an upgrade & I would really like to get a smartphone~ web browsing, camera, Qwerty keyboard are the minimum requirements, but my budget is under $100.00.
So I need advice~

Blackberry

or...

iPhone?

Surprise

2010-12-06T20:16:00.000-08:00

Mother forwarded an email to us yesterday which contained a very pleasant surprise~ my older brother is making a fly-by visit this weekend!
I haven't seen Bil in about 4 years, since our Christmas trip to New Mexico, though we've passed emails & e-cards since then. He'll only be here Friday through Sunday, so we're planning to get together for dinner on Saturday.
Sam lucked out & has the whole weekend off, but unfortunately Jessica has to work~ I hope she won't be too upset, since she hasn't seen her uncle in quite some time.
We also learned that my in-laws are all going to be in the Bay Area for Christmas~ Chris' Mom will be staying with us, while his brother & family will be with my sister-in-law's relatives. I will be filling in for two vacationing co-workers thru the holidays, so time off for me is out of the question, but Chris was able to take time off to spend with his family. I believe we'll be hosting everyone here on Boxing Day, so I won't miss out on the festivities or the chance to show off my new home!

Ready, set, KNIT!!!

2010-12-05T17:45:00.000-08:00

I participated in this project a couple years ago~ very satisfying. This year, they are encouraging people to make scarves (knit or crochet) for their regional Special Olympics event; go to the website & click the "Projects Guidelines" tab~ all the details for each state can be found, & they even list a few free pattern downloads. There's plenty of time~ deadlines generally are for the end of January, since most of the events aren't held until February or March. Of course, you could send scarves to any of the 35 games being held in the US during 2011 (Northern California is held in March & needs at least 1200!)
If you consider yourself as being "non-crafty", there is an area where you can donate to support the Special Olympics with your financial gifts. But you know what? This would be a great opportunity to learn yarn craft~ you know you want to, right?

A Holiday Tradition

2010-12-04T10:52:00.001-08:00

Join in the fun!

I'd rather be napping...

2010-12-03T22:27:00.001-08:00

I am not a morning person.

Never have been, don’t plan on ever being one.

I really need at least two hours to get going in the morning~ shower, dress, feed the animals, eat breakfast, read the paper, finish my tea, before heading out for the day~ but even then, I don’t feel like all cylinders are firing until about 10:00 am.

Too bad I’m expected to start working at 8:30.

In the past couple months, I’ve been waking up at 5:30 (more commonly known around here as “the butt-crack of dawn”), look at the clock in disgust, & attempt to go back to sleep. A little voice in my head says…

”You could take a walk”

Yeah, right.

But you know what?

After 2 weeks of this nonsense, I did.

Really.

Been getting up & heading out the door by 5:45 am~ not every day, just 3 or 4 mornings a week~ & walking for 35 minutes.

Did you know that the stars are still out at 5:45 am?

Can’t say I’m too fond of it, especially now that it’s gotten cold, but I keep going (unless I talk myself out of it when it’s wet out, or I have to go in early).

Hopefully, I’ll see a difference someday.

But I’ll never be a morning person.

Gifts

2010-12-02T21:42:00.001-08:00

This is what we first saw

Figured we would take it out when we moved in

Two weeks later, we found it covered with small, bright green leaves

Decided to leave it & see what would happen

Went on our trip to Washington DC & returned to clouds of white blossoms

Before we knew it,

we were surrounded by glowing red fruit

Bushels of it

Fresh, frozen, canned, gifted

I can hardly wait for next spring

I'm finally feeling it...

2010-12-01T21:57:00.000-08:00

“Feeling what?” you may ask.

~Routine

~Settled

~Centered

~Anticipation

~Peace

~Joy

~Home

Six months of change and transition took a toll on me, set me on autopilot in most areas of my life for a long time.

Several things were set aside~ things I enjoy and find fulfillment in doing~ mostly because it took too much energy to even think about.

Now, I am through the proverbial tunnel, back in the light and looking forward to all the good things God has in store for me.

It’s good to be back.

My hands ...

2010-10-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

have been kept very busy knitting precious little things.
October has turned into "Baby Bonanza" in my little world.
Two ladies from my office gave birth to sons earlier this month.
Wednesday morning, my blogging (and face-to-face) friend, Bek & her husband, Matt, welcomed their first child~ a darling boy named Wyatt (see "Bek Life" in my side bar)
But the capper for me? The birth of my first niece, Malia Mei, Thursday morning! This is the first baby to come into my immediate family in nearly twenty years, when my own dearest Sam was born (Heavens! Has it really been twenty years?) My brother & his wife were blessed through open adoption, and have been allowed to be part of the last two month's of Malia's journey into the world by her generous birth parents. Please lift them up in prayer~ they've taken a brave, but difficult path, and will need love & support over the weeks to come.
I can hardly wait until next Saturday, when we are having a family gathering at Mother's~ since I'll most likely become a grandmother in the next three years, I need to brush up on my baby skills!

Summer wanes...

2010-08-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

Goodness~ has it really been that long since I last posted?

Wish I could say it’s because I’ve been off having fascinating adventures, but the reality is that I’ve been butt lazy this summer! The new job, while interesting and challenging, leaves me mentally drained by the end of the day; most evenings find me indulging in frivolous recreation. I tend my virtual farm, dig for pirate treasure, queue up some old movies, or simply sprawl about in my pleasantly cool bedroom reading light mysteries.

With the waning of summer comes an end to most of our indolence and idleness; Sam started classes last week and has been making the most of his bicycle and bus pass, since he just completed another rite of passage into the adult world~ a speeding ticket. Driving privileges have been suspended until several criteria are met:

1. Makes his court appearance

2. Pays us back for the ticket and driving school

3. Replaces the car key that he lost on a fishing trip with his friends last month

4. Begins to pay 1/3 of the car insurance and his own gas

Knowing that his mother is a hard case and doesn’t back down on her edicts, he got very motivated and even more lucky, landing himself his first job after 3 years of “casual” looking. He will be doing security at one of the retailers in our old hometown mall; it’s the job he’s been hoping for, since his intention is to go into law enforcement.

We’ve recently been attending a church closer to home, wanting to get to know people in the area and plug into the local ministries, although TCC remains our church home. One of the ministries that this church recently initiated was a community garden, something Chris and I have talked about for a number of years. Phase One is family and charity plots, tended by individuals for the benefit of their own homes or others who are physically unable to participate themselves; Phase Two will be community fruit and nut trees, and a meditation garden to be tended by everyone; and Phase Three is a large area (roughly 2 acres) dedicated to producing crops for the local food bank. We leased a 12X12 family plot, and Chris has been having a great time building the beds and planning the late season garden.

My latest endeavor has been some informal knitting classes for a couple co-workers and their friends. We’ve only met a couple times so far, but I’m enjoying teaching and have been writing up future lesson plans and projects to help them progress in the craft if they choose. I’m finding it difficult to get together with my old knitting group on Friday evenings, since I don’t get off until 5:30 pm and it’s at least a 40 minute drive back to Tracy, so this is somewhat filling the social void.

Lastly, let me introduce our newest family member~

Sir Angus of Lower ChickenButt

More about this charming gentleman later~

Transitions

2010-06-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

This is the story of my life; practically every facet of my orderly little world either has, is, or is shortly going to undergo fairly radical change.
The best part is of all: I'm not freaked out in the least.
Really, I'm not; aside from an intermittent twitch in my right eyelid when I'm tired, I'm feeling pretty terrific.
We're enjoying getting to know our new hometown, 15 miles north-east of where we lived before, & feeling very comfortable with the change. We're settled into our home, aside from the guest/craft room~ it's still stacked in boxes, but not for long. I still smile when I tell people we finally bought a house; coming home has taken on a whole new meaning. Every day, I walk around touching my walls, look in the linen closet (enormous!), marvel at the empty cabinets & full pantry in the kitchen, just to assure myself that it isn't a dream. Bits of home improvement get done every week, including getting a bit of garden planted. I'm in no rush~ I want to do some soil improvement & planning before committing anything major into the ground. The patio is filled with planters, the front has a bed of geraniums & marigolds, & we put in tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash, & cantaloupes this past weekend.
My career has taken a new & exciting turn. The company that took over is much larger, with multiple locations, great benefits, & a central administration building in another town. I was officially transferred over to the accounting department on June 2nd & have spent the past month assisting with merger cleanup & taking on familiar, but expanded, duties in my new workplace. The commute is the same distance, just east instead of west, with the added benefit of being the opposite direction of the daily exodus to the Bay Area. It's in a mostly residential area, with a large park one block over, so several of the ladies head over there at lunch time to eat & take a walk. Most of all, I'm enjoying the challenge of the work & getting to know my new co-workers; nearly everyone already knew my name & have welcomed me warmly~ a good thing for me, since you know I'm pretty shy & have trouble making the first move.
Our family is also in major transition~ Mother & Stepdad are actually talking about retiring; my brother & his wife are in the adoption process to start their family; & my dear Robb has proposed to his Beloved, so next year, there is going to be a wedding! I knew for a quite a while that is was coming; when we'd talk, Robb could only focus on two subjects~ his search for a house, & how much Stacy meant to him~ within 6 months, it went from "If we ever get married..." to "When we get married..." Well, Robb closed on his first house 2 weeks after we did, moving in the same day, & Stacy has moved into the same area to finish her bachelor's degree, so I knew it was just a matter of time until the announcement. He called me 2 weeks ago, having given her a ring the previous weekend while on a trip to the Keys; he is so happy & excited about the next phase of his life.

Chris & I are planning a trip to Florida in November to meet Stacy & her family, plus have a little vacation time after the busy season; we'll probably even be spending time with my former husband & his new wife, dicussing our role in the coming nuptials.
Life is never dull!

May has always been good...

2010-05-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

Things are finally settling down around the Garden~ surrounded still by boxes, but now furniture outnumbers them ever so slightly.

Work is still in a state of limbo; while the official transfer took place April 27^th, the consolidation & name change will happen June 1^st. Praise God, everyone has been offered a position, & I’m waiting to find out when I’ll be moving on to the central accounting department in another town.

You might recall that we took a little trip a couple months ago; if not, don’t feel bad~ I’m having trouble remembering myself :-S I have a few photos to share:

First objective~ the aborted visit to the Washington Monument

A gorgeous nearly-Spring day~ 75 degrees & clear

Chris & Ranger Ruth checking in with his Mom

Success!

Smithsonian Castle

I truely covet this seed catalouge

The things that facinate me at the National Museum of American History

The White House

From DC, we took the train to Richmond, Virginia

A day at Colonial Williamsburg

A cloudy day at Monticello

A very rare photo~ how did he get my camera?

Another day, another house museum~ Maymount in Richmond

The only mishap worth mentioning was not mine~ after we arrived at our hotel in Arlington & were ready to head out to the Mall, Chris realized his wallet was missing. We had take a red-eye flight with a two hour lay-over in Atlanta, stopped at the airport McD's to eat before taking the shuttle, & the last time he remembered having it was when we boarded the plane in San Jose! The hotel staff jumped right in, calling the shuttle driver back to get us, & airport security to meet us~ he would have to file a police report in order to get a temporary id just to fly home (forget about picking up our rental car in Richmond~ rented in his name only, with non-refundable payment already made *grrr*)

Well, Chris has to be the luckiest freaking man on the face of the Earth~ ten minutes after we arrived back at the airport, while filling out paperwork, the arrival gate called saying that they had his wallet! I never heard where it was located (maybe still on the plane) & was allowed to go back into the boarding area to get it, thanking everyone profusely for saving my husband's vacation~ poor guy was not looking forward to a week with me after that sort of expensive diaster :-P

Having my first "At Home" day

2010-04-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

Woke up to pouring rain & a very upset tummy, so I decided to take some of my soon-to-be lost sick time to spend a day alone in my house.
Well, not exactly alone~ the girls are with me, playing "Nurse Kitty" & doing their level best to keep me in my chair.
The move is done, the unpacking is coming along slowly, and we'll be done cleaning up our rental in the next couple days; all that is left is painting the kitchen, bathrooms, & laundry area, cleaning the carpets, repairing some sheetrock in the garage, & attempting to re-mortar some brick facing that Jessica crashed into several years ago. No, we're not required to do all this, but we want to leave the duplex in the best condition we can, both out of respect to the owners & to our 15 years of memories in this home.
The garden has been saying goodbye, putting on a show full of colorful blooms, green grass, fully~leaved tree, & carrots ready to pick. I'll be sad to let it go, especially since we won't be concentrating on the new yard until next year, but I've learned alot over the years & know which direction I want to go forward. For now, we're back to container plants & minimum maintenance while we fix up the inside.
Okay, back to my chair & kintting~ need to get a couple more hats completed by May 1st to sell in our Relay for Life team booth.

It's Time!!!

2010-04-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

Moving Weekend has arrived~ Yippee!
Am I all packed?
Not yet.
But I don't care~ I'll be sleeping in my own house by Sunday.
You can't see it, but there is a lot of Happy Dancing going on!

Hey, I remember you!

2010-03-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

Dropping back in briefly; the past couple of weeks have been interesting to say the least :-/
The little bit of work needing to be done in our new house (Lordy, how I love saying that!) is progressing, but time to put it into overdrive~ Chris is being sent on work trip starting April 26th, so both places need to be ready before he leaves.
The hammer finally fell at work last Friday~ changes are underway & I'm feeling cautiously optomistic, but emotions were running pretty high all around me. Of course, this happened six hours before we flew out to Washington DC; part of me felt bad about not being on hand to help during the intial shock & adjustment period, but the rest of me is rejoicing that I've been far away from the tears, fears, & handholding.
Our trip was wonderful~ the weather was perfect, got to see the main things we wanted to & stumbled on some great surprises, & not a single injury :-D I'll share more later, but right now I need to eat, clear out the email inbox, & head over to the house to stain my kitchen cabinets.

Blog Neglect

2010-03-12T16:21:00.000-08:00

I know I’m among the guilty; in my defense, it has been a very eventful month, even by our normally chaotic standards:

b Since I’m in the accounting field, the first couple months of the year is one long string of reporting deadlines, which naturally translates into many hours working at the office & home.

b There was a train of birthdays: Sam, Jessica, my dad, niece, grandmother, both sisters, & two good friends, with the requisite parties & gatherings~ February is an expensive month around here.

b To my extreme dismay, I had to have a tooth pulled; a previously root-canalled molar fractured vertically under the crown, leading to a 14 mm gum pocket & severe infection. Everything went swimmingly & work on the bridge will start in a couple weeks, but I’m still mourning the loss~ I’m not vain about much, but I’ve always been proud of my teeth.

b I managed to slip away to the annual Stitches West conference at the end of February~ three days of technique classes, yarn fondling, & solitude. I even returned with $15.00 in my pocket & only six skeins of yarn!

b The first of March found me relocating my office again, back to the downtown branch after 2 years. The timing was fortuitous, since all the nearby parking around the other location was eliminated a month earlier & I was making a twice-daily quarter mile hike with all my bags & supplies.

b Two days into the move, I got called up for jury duty; usually I only have to check in every day for a week, but this time I actually had to appear at the courthouse & ended up in the jury pool for a civil case. Fortunately, the projected duration of the trail was 4 to 6 weeks, so the judge excused me, since it would be a severe financial hardship, & I won’t have to serve again for 2 years.

Whew~ that is even more exhausting in print! Oh, I forgot something….

We bought a house.

Seriously.

We got the keys an hour ago.

HALLELUJAH!!!!

I’ve shared with several of you that this has been the dearest wish of my heart for over 20 years, a dream that the logical side of me knew was almost impossible living in California. The crash in the real estate market stirred the embers, so to speak, but it took me months to scratch up to courage to even begin looking, & then once we started last summer, it has been a series of hopes & disappointments which had me strongly considering giving up the whole idea as not meant for us. The end of December, just a few days after my television interview about our experiences as first-time homebuyers, we finally had an offer accepted on a house we really liked~ but it was a short sale property, so we settled in for another wait on the lenders. Having been burned before, we continued looking at foreclosure properties as they came up; February 4^th, I saw a house with our agent that was very promising, so we scheduled an appointment for Chris to see it on Saturday. We submitted a pretty aggressive offer (for us) that afternoon, just meeting the submission deadline; the bank began looking over the offers on Tuesday, & Wednesday morning, our agent called that they had countered only our offer & wanted a 30-day close of escrow!

It’s been a whirlwind of activity ever since, with inspections, appraisals, form signing, telephone calls, repairs~ all the infinite details involved with buying a house~ culminating in today’s event: Chris & I receiving the keys to our own home.

God is good.

Baby Boy

2010-02-03T11:48:00.001-08:00

Not such a baby anymore~ today, he is 19 years old & still my heart's joy. Clever, funny, & kind, he's a good friend, a protective son, & a man of integrity~ his motto: "Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life." Any wonder I am such a proud parent? Happy Birthday, Sam.

The votes are in~ two for Vegas, one for the Grand Canyon, one for the Northwest, & several "Gee, I have no ideas" ~ so we are heading to... Washington DC! Yes, we were there two years ago, but were only able to see a fraction of what we wanted, so we figured it's the right time to go back. The plan is to fly into DC, spend three days in the museums, & then take the train south to Richmond, VA to spend the remaining four days sightseeing & fly home from there. The travel folder has been started, with the Nation Museum of American History, Monticello, & Williamsburg on the "must-do" list; oh, and in case you were wondering, I have already reserved our tour of the Washington Monument~ no repeat drama this trip

What do you do...

2010-01-22T12:56:00.000-08:00

...when you have a week of vacation coming up, sans any children for the first time in, oh, about forever (9 years, actually, but close enough), and no idea where you should go?
Ask your blog friends!
Yep, here's your chance to tell Meg where to go...on vacation that is :-)
We've had a little tax-time windfall and I've got the itch to travel after nearly 2 years of staycations, but haven't been able to decide where to go in mid-April that doesn't require a passport (Chris doesn't have his yet & I'm not about to go thru the deadline drama like my trip to Canada!)
Any ideas?

Thankful Thursday

2010-01-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned before that I've been following the Simple Abundance path for the past couple of years, and with this new year, I've been feeling convicted about sliding past the very first principle, Gratitude. I know I lead a blessed and contented life, full of gifts, grace, and the simple pleasures that make me happy; yet too often, I fail to express my gratefulness, not only with God, but also with my family and friends. I’m guilty of letting the speed of life and the myriad of commitments to keep me in blinder, focused on the next task, the next goal, instead of savoring the here-and-now moments of joy and blessing.

One of the ladies I visit on my blog rounds is Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses; she has been posting "Thankful Thursday" for quite some time and I always enjoy dropping by to see what cheers the heart of each person. This time, I’m joining in with a few things I am thankful for and mentally committing myself to being more aware all the good that surrounds me:

A roof over my head each night;

sharing my home those who love me;

having a job, however uncertain;

being able to treat snow as a novelty;

dental insurance;

modern plumbing;

having a car paid off!

A fresh new page

2010-01-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new year, 365 days of promise & mystery; all I will ask for is my daily portion of grace to face whatever comes my way, and that I will find contentment in where I find myself at the end of each day.

Yesterday, after a late morning start, we wound our way east towards the mountains, stopping in the little town of Murphys for lunch (a great burger with fresh sweet potato fries) and then up to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, elevation 4000 ft

We bundled up and went out for an hour stroll thru the giant sequoias~ not particularly strenuous, but somewhat hazardous given the six to ten inches of hard-pack snow and ice on the trails.

For the life of me, I could not get any traction in my hikers, and had to hold on to Chris' arm the whole way to avoid another fall~ now that my arm is finally bordering on the functional, I am not about to go thru all that nonsense again!

We continued up Highway 4 until we reached the road closure at Bear Valley Resort, right around 7000 ft; it was approaching sunset, so we took a little stroll to the Hell's Kitchen overlook to watch for the full moon rising thru the clouds (only glimpses and no decent photos), before heading back to our valley home.

After an impromptu gathering at our friends home for games, snacks, and noise makers at midnight, we were home and in bed by 12:30~ gone are the party days and good riddance, I must say! Today is a perfect snuggle-down-at-home day; it is chilly and wet outside, so I think I'll make soup from turkey leftovers and devote my time to my book, knitting, and some football games~ I wonder who is playing?

Hello again...

2009-12-30T14:14:00.000-08:00

Hope you each had a wonderful holiday season; once again, mine was calm, quiet, & understated (almost minimalist~ only a wreath on the door & the pre-lit tree with trimmed with a few bows & the Christmas cards we received). The gifts were practical~ gift cards all around, gas grill parts, a passenger side mirror housing, & Sam’s pocket-watch~ and the day relaxed; the guys picked up Jessica, then we went to the movies (Sherlock Holmes) & then out for Thai food. That’s right~ I did not cook. Just haven’t been in the mood.

This is vacation week for us & we decided to stay home again this year. We’ve been alternating between lazy days around the house, & some little day trips; Monday, we went to the newly opened Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, then did some exploring around the Presidio park, stopping at the National Cemetery, a couple of the former weapon batteries, & finishing at Inspiration Point before heading home for warm showers & hot soup (‘twas a tad chilly!)

Tomorrow, we’re going up as high in the mountains as we can get without snow chains (the PT Cruiser doesn’t have a set) to do some hiking & get our annual fill of snow; Saturday, we’re reuniting Jessica & her cat in San Jose, then possibly heading for the coast~ depends on what mood strikes.

Life toddles on along here much as always, but there are changes on the horizon which I am doing my best not to stress over. Actually, it has been fairly simple~ there is nothing I can do about any of it, so I have mentally put in a basket & handed over to the Father. He’s taken care of us from the beginning & I trust Him to continue to do so, but you know that every so often, I take one of those problems out, look at it from every side from least damage to worst case, until God brings me again to the realization that whatever the outcome, we will be all right & I can drop it back into the basket.

You all have a safe & blessed New Year’s celebration; I look forward to the adventures in store for us all in 2010.

Holiday Wishes

2009-12-24T11:55:00.001-08:00

Blessings from our home

to your family

May you find Joy in all things

Love from Meg's Garden

2009-12-12T13:44:00.000-08:00

Came across a great holiday game & giveaway; drop by & check it out, especially if you are a quilter or love someone who does!

Off to a cookie/gift exchange & knitting party~ promise I will be back by to post again soon.

Giving Thanks...

2009-11-25T16:59:00.000-08:00

For the Bounty Before Us

The Beauty Around Us

The Love that Surrounds us

Happy Thanksgiving from Meg's Garden

Weekday Escape

2009-10-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned earlier, Chris & I have taken a few excursions with the advent of Autumn, arguably the best season weather-wise in our part of the country. A couple weeks back, he had Friday as one of his days off, so I took a personal holiday so we could visit a new/old attraction in San Francisco.

The California Academy of Science, along with the De Young Museum, have been the center pieces of Golden Gate Park for a number of decades, hosting scores of exhibits & innumerable schoolchildren on fieldtrips~ Chris & I both have memories of visits throughout grade school. Both building were severely damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake & limped along with patched up repairs for years, until it was determined that they needed to be rebuilt from scratch. In all honesty, I really dislike the design of the new De Young (which reopened in 2005 after 5 years); but the new C.A.S. is a wonder & we’ve been itching to see it since it reopened last year.

The most noticeable feature has to be the Living Roof~ 2 ½ acres of native plants growing over the undulating surface of the roof;

it was rather warm the day we were there & the wild flowers were past their prime, but the gentle breeze from the bay & the buzzing of insects made for a hypnotic visit.

We started in the Rainforest exhibit~ we walked up through four stories of plants, birds, & butterflies;

looking down into the water of the pond, you could see strange animals sitting on the bottom.

An elevator ride took us down to the new Steinhart Aquarium;

Chris & Ranger Ruth had some close encounters with really big fish!

Back on the main level, we entered the African Hall, which housed the classic dioramas from our childhood

& then on to the Morrison Planetarium~ where we both managed to doze off during the “Fragile Planet” presentation.

After lunch in the Atrium (yummy Spring Rolls & killer cheesecake) & a visit to the gift shop, we took the long way back to the car, hiking through a stand of coastal redwoods that reside in the park

“It’s this direction~ I’m certain!”

The Park is one of my favorite places in California~ I’m drawn back again & again, finding both new & old sites in this wonderful urban escape; too bad it’s such a pain to drive in the City, otherwise I’d might make the trip more often.

No,I haven't fallen off the planet...

2009-10-18T19:39:00.001-07:00

Greetings for the great Wind Bowl of California; I’d wave, but I’d best hold on to this tree so I don’t blow away! Thanks to the remnants of a Philippine typhoon, we’ve had an early taste of winter this past week~ a drop in temperatures, driving rain, & of course, gale-force winds taking down trees all over. No major damage around the garden~ fences & furniture is intact, though the remains of the cucumbers & green peppers were flattened.

I’m beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel work-wise; I’ve been working weekends for a couple months, but quarter-end & escheat reporting should be wrapped up in the next week, and my CEO told me that they are finally ready to hire a new accounting manager. YIPPEE!!! I doubt they will find and train someone by my next vacation (the week after Christmas), but it’s a relief to know I’ll have some help & backup in the future.

Good news on the Jessica front as well; instead of being homeless, she is now living & working back in San Jose. She was able to get on with Safe*way, at a brand new store near where she is living; the money is modest, but better than unemployment & it’s a union job with full benefits after her probation period. She seems to have lucked into a good roommate for a change, an “older” woman with a daughter away at college, so she’s being mothered & looked after~ or at least as much as she will allow (goodness knows where that independent streak came from!) We are fostering Violet the Cat again, but the transition has been a bit quieter this time; it only took a month for her to start joining us in the living room in the evenings, perched on tip-toe in my lap.

Chris is still working most weekends, but not the crazy-excessive hours of summer, so we’ve managed to slip away for a couple adventures over the past month (which I’ll be sharing shortly). This past Monday was a holiday for me & he had the day off, having worked the weekend; we lucked out big-time, scoring half-priced tickets for the King Tut exhibit at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. We had the first entry at 9:00 am, & actually had the gallery all to ourselves for about 15 minutes~ we had quiet & room to enjoy the gorgeous artifacts without bumping elbows or fussing children. We were done in just over an hour, since the rest of the museum is closed on Mondays, & took a leisurely hour stroll around the Botanical Gardens & Arboretum pausing for a picnic snack, & to watch one of the many tai chi groups practicing in the park. Since the rain was threatening to start, we headed back towards home before noon, stopping off for lunch at Mimi’s Café; a restful day was capped off by a quiet nap with the cats & grilled cheese sandwiches for supper.

Time to sign off & pay attention to my novel, before it has to go back to the library on Tuesday; this is how I know I’ve been working too much~ I’ve only read 8 books since June!

Apologies

2009-09-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

To my friends and visitors~ you may have read an errant post or received a questionable email in my name; this was not my doing! Evidently, my email and blog sign in have been hacked and were used to send spam to my address book and post an entry here, which in turn was posted to my FB account.
I am in contact with MSN and Blogger to rectify the breach, so hopefully this won't happen again.
Again, my apologies for the rude intrusion.

Hitting the Trails

2009-09-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

In our little corner of the world, August and September are extremely hectic~ aside from the annual scramble at both our jobs (Chris, the end of vacation season; me, the semi-annual escheat reporting) and the start of school, with the requisite supplies and paperwork, we observe both Chris’ birthday and our wedding anniversary. Those events tend to be skimmed over on the actual days~ a kiss and a wish as we pass each other in the kitchen, but not much else.

This year has been much the same~ just the added excitement of our baby boy starting local community college (with concurrent transportation disarrangement) and the stress of frequent (and so far fruitless) house hunting. One difference was that Chris actually had a couple Saturdays off, so we took advantage one morning a couple weeks ago to check out a new-to-us regional park.

Briones Regional Park is a secluded little gem of hiking trails, tucked in near a large reservoir; there is not much in the way of development~ no snack bars, gift shops, or even ranger stations~ just picnic tables, restrooms, and miles of paths and trails through grassland, trees, and hilltops. Before tackling the “easy” Old Briones Road to Crescent Ridge loop, we brought a picnic lunch to share in the shade (it was still pretty warm, but not scalding), and then donned backpacks with some water bottles, camera, and our new little mascot, Ranger Ruth.

I first was introduced to the tiny Ranger crew by my friend, Junie Moon, who wrote about her travelling companion, Park Patty; I loved the idea and went online to invite a Ranger to train and travel with us as we explore.

The 2 ½ mile loop first took us along a tree-lined road, which then led through a valley filled with grazing land, where we had a little adventure. We strolled past a number of cows with their calves; apparently, this pair thought we were fascinating, because they began to follow us, pursued by their vigilant mother.

After about a quarter mile, they were distracted by the creek and wandered away from the path, but Momma continued to trail along behind us and started to become vocal~ I was wondering if she was lecturing us for leading her children astray. Looking forward, we could see another cow standing across the road, looking intently at us and making a grunting noise; this is the point we realize that this wasn’t a cow, but a bull~ and we were standing between him and one of his harem. We had several tense minutes as we stood stock-still in the road and scoped out escape routes in case he lost his temper; fortunately, the day was becoming warm and the creek was a more attractive destination then chasing a couple humans across the fields, though the bull continued to verbally abuse us as he headed off.

The next segment of the hike was up a steep trail leading to the ridge; happily, it was completely shaded by the trees, but remained a challenging climb~ I’d take 75 to 100 steps, and then rest a couple minutes to catch my breath. The pay-off was a large live oak to rest under and this stunning view.

We refreshed ourselves with apples, crackers, and lots of water, before tackling the trail down the other side and back to our car. As we packed up to leave, a very weary and well-behaved German Sheppard plopped herself down in the shade of the tree to wait for her companions; we met them several yards down the trail~ the first people we had seen all afternoon~ and it turns out it was a couple men that Chris knew through work! They hadn’t seen each other for some time, so we stood on the road for 15 minutes while they caught up on work and local news, until the strong sun sent us all off in search of shade.

We wended our way down another steep grade, past the Archery Club grounds, across a meadow and creek, and back around to the picnic area, parking lot, and thankfully, the restrooms.

All and all, it was a nice day, and I look forward to going back~ though most likely, we’ll wait until Spring when the hills will be green and the temperatures quite a bit cooler!

The Melon has landed

2009-08-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

Our first Persian melon came off the vine this weekend…though not intentionally.

You see, I went out the other morning to test if it was ready~ it should come unfastened from the stem when it is properly ripe, so I put on my green gauntlets (remember the rabbit protectors?), reached down gingerly through the scratchy vines, & heaved it up (it’s the size of a basketball & at least 15 pounds) to see if it would come loose. I was bent over, the melon about 18 inches from my chest, when a half-dollar sized black widow jumped out from the underside straight for my face! I yelped, reared back, & simultaneously dropped the melon over the side of the raised planter, snapping the stem & barely missing Dahlia who had come to “help”, and bolted for the house screaming “RAAAAID!!!”

Sam came running to the rescue clad only in boxer shorts, armed with a pellet gun & a spray can of bug killer (don’t ask me~ it must be a guy thing); unfortunately for him, the falling melon did the job before he could, but he was kind enough to extricate the cat from under the potting table & clean off any “residue” from the fruit before bringing it inside the house.

I sliced & served half of the melon with breakfast, but not before Chris christened it:

Checking in...

2009-08-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Winding up the month...

2009-07-31T13:52:00.000-07:00

July simply slipped away on us~ blink twice and it was over.

The heat has broken for the time being, which means a pleasant weekend ahead; we’ll be celebrating Chris’ birthday (47 years old and doesn’t look a day over…48), attending another wedding (nothing for 3 years, now every third weekend we’re attending one), and hopefully spending some time with my knitting group~ work has really been getting in the way lately.

Some significant things have come up~ I’m just not ready to blog too much about them

b As of last night, the merger is off; I’m still processing the information, so I’m not certain how I feel about it yet~ could be a good thing in the long run.

b Jessica is soon to be homeless again; I know how I feel about this, so I have to let it go and turn it over to God.

b My former husband is getting married again. Surprising would be an understatement~ five years ago, he stated emphatically “Never again!”(his second marriage was horrible), but that was before his mother died. I wish him all the joy and happiness a good marriage can bring.

b We’ve begun the process of buying our own house; this is a dream too dear to my heart, and my nature too flipping superstitious, to share much here~ although prayers would be greatly appreciated.

b I quietly joined Weight Watchers this week~ very personal stuff for me, so enough said.

The garden faired pretty well through the last heat wave~ I have a steady flow of cucumbers, the occasional zucchini that makes a surprise appearance- seemingly out of nowhere- but the tomatoes, beans, and lemons are a bust this year. We are still waiting for the first Persian melon to be ready, but I’ve found 3 more in various stages of development~ I’m very excited to try my first home-grown fruit, though I’m a bit worried about the vine taking over what little backyard we possess.

I’ve taken my next steps into home canning~ we were gifted with bags of apricots and peaches, so I’ve been attempting low-sugar jam. The results have been mixed, but all tasty~ the pantry shelf and refrigerator are sporting pints of colorful goodies for the family, from soft apricot preserves to basically peach syrup (not that anyone is complaining that much). I’m looking forward to apple season and perfecting my chunky applesauce~ the last batch only made it to early January.

All this old-time domestic activity is a constant source of consternation and humor for my mother~ she cannot understand how a child raised in Berkeley in the 70’s, by progressive, liberal, and feminist-leaning parents, finds such fascination and contentment in homey activities like gardening and knitting. I think I pushed her over the edge when I voiced my interest in raising backyard chickens~ there was a significant stretch of silence, either from stifling the urge to laugh or struggling to form a polite response, before she could reply “Your grandmother would’ve been proud.”

I think that’s almost the nicest compliment I’ve ever received.

Summer lumbers on...

2009-07-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

July has brought milestones, twists, celebrations, and goodbyes in the Garden.

Sam enrolled in community college (my baby!) and is looking forward to his classes (though not the hour bus ride each way)

We attended the reception ball for two of our fellow dancers on the 4th of July

but missed the fireworks while having dinner with friends

The negotiations for the merger continue, so things are still a bit unsettled at work~ I do my best to focus on still having a job in a state with 11% unemployment.

The garden is beginning to produce after a very slow start

we've been enjoying Armenian Curl cucumbers

and the occasional crook-neck or zucchini squash

four tomatoes were planted this year, though only one is really flourishing

and we'll have our first Persian melon in the next week

Poppy peruses the bush beans

but Dahlia goes straight to sampling the grapevines

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Yesterday morning, I sat down to read Thursday's paper with my cuppa, and the day came to a screeching halt. As I was flipping through the pages, a face in the obituaries caught my eye~ curiosity turned to shock when I realized that it was Doug, my first boyfriend. Thirty years rolled away and I started to cry; I was fourteen, he was eighteen, the brother of my friend, and we met at square dancing. He gave me his class ring, which I wore proudly on a chain around my neck, and introduced me to Motown, flea markets, roller coasters, and escargot. He hurt my pride, rather then my heart, when we broke up, but we remained friends nevertheless. Doug was like that~ fickle, funny, and a friend to everyone.

It was a God-thing; the memorial was being held that afternoon in the Bay Area and I had a floating holiday coming to me. I was able to attend, paying my respects to his family and saying goodbye to the sweet boy of my memory; the most poignant thing for me was seeing his dance shoes next to his photo. A good number of the former Young Rebels (our teen square dance/clogging club) were in attendance; we spent the dinner renewing friendship and sharing memories from a lifetime ago, parting with email addresses and pledges to get together for a reunion event.

I do hope that won’t be the end of it, but too often it takes events like this to bring us together again.

Now I know what a muffin feels like...

2009-07-01T17:41:00.001-07:00

Looks like the whirlwind that is my life has died down for the time being, for which I am quite grateful.

I’ve been putting in 50-hour weeks, taking work home, & generally ruminating on whether or not I’ll still be employed come January. Add to the mixture unrelenting early summer heat (four of the past eight weeks have seen temps from 95° to 115° F) and a barely functioning A/C at work, and you have me, dragging my abused carcass home every evening, shedding all unnecessary clothing, and collapsing into a chair for some mindless television watching or in front of the computer playing a totally addictive FB game. Doesn’t that sound like so much fun?

Good news has come along~ all indications are that our institution will remain viable, albeit under the control of another company, and the employees have been assured of their continued employment. Well, 99% assured~ I’m told the language of the agreement is necessarily ambiguous to allow for weeding out unsuitable staff members. So now the real work begins~ six months or more of reporting, investigating, sorting, transferring, logistical planning, and extensive interviews, before I can settle into a new work environment and team. I am cautiously optimistic about the opportunity, though it’s tough for most accounting-type geeks to embrace wholesale changes to our routines.

So, amid all this stress and uncertainty, we have managed to have a little fun. My mother surprised me by changing her plans and attending Sam’s graduation after all; I believe a little bird, in the guise of my older brother, let her know that I was really quite upset about her missing this important family event (even though I would never say anything about it). She was at her charming and lucid best, sharing anecdotes and photos with us all~ here is a shot of my parents together, more than 45 years after their divorce

They’ve seen each other only about a dozen times over those years, usually at a big family event (I think the last time was after Sam’s birth), and have always been friendly~ I think they had a good time together, with no spouses or responsibilities, to indulge in walks down memory lane.

We had an open house BBQ the evening of graduation, very relaxed and low maintenance, with the family and most of Sam’s friends drifting in and out,

until they headed off to the Safe and Sober Mystery Night, sponsored by the Senior Parents’ Club. There are no pictures of the event~ no one wanted to risk their cameras around the go-carts, bumper boats, & mechanical bull~ but this is what remained of Sam the next morning

Poor puppy had been going full bore for most of eighteen, emotionally charged hours, after coming off two weeks of finals; I believe he slept about 12 hours Sunday, as well as all of the drive to and from Yosemite on Monday.

Chris and I managed to have an afternoon alone on Father’s Day~ Sam was nursing his annual beginning-of-summer-vacation cold and opted to stay home. After breakfast and church, we drove east into the valley, stopping first at Lavender Hollow Farms; I had been telling him about it since the Garden Club outing there last spring and we lucked out that they were still opened for the season.

We wandered about, Chris poking his head into every open door he could find, and left with a couple plants to start building our collection; someday, when we have a house of our own, I’m going to plant a bank of lavender, in all shapes and sizes, both for the fragrance and the beneficial bees that will come to work in my garden.

We followed the road along until we reached Oakdale and the famous Cheese Factory. Whenever we’ve driven by in the past, it’s either been on our way to an event with no time to stop, or on our way back to town, when all we want is to get home. This time, we were ready for some lunch

Instead of the “loaf of bread, jug of wine, and thou”, we opted for a round of foccacia, a tub of pesto quark, and a bottle of sasparilla, since we were driving and it was getting a bit warm

seated in this park-like area, with the petting zoo animals as company.

We poked along home, stopping at roadside farm stands (scored 20 ears of sweet corn for $2.00!) and admiring the fruit-laden apricot orchards. It was probably Chris’ last relaxing weekend until September; his busy season is in full swing and he’s currently on six days a week with a short staff.

Speaking of relaxing, it’s time for me to toddle off to my recliner and work on my knitting; I have a cardigan two-thirds done for myself and need to cast on some cotton washcloths and market bags, as well as a child’s sweater for a new-to-me charity project, Warm Woolies. Hope you enjoy a cool, comfortable week~ it’s not looking good around here, but at least the A/C is working again!

My Hiatus in Pictures

2009-06-20T20:20:00.001-07:00

So, Meg~ what did you do on your hiatus?

I took myself out for tea & wandering on my birthday

I bought myself a few kitchen & knitting goodies

I received a wonderful package of swap goodies from my friend Dory

Even something for the girls

Oh, and those flowers? Sam snuck out of the house at 6:00 am on Mother's Day to go shopping with his crew, and brought me these

There was Grad Night at Disneyland, the annual Tennis Banquet (guess who was team captain?), a close shave through finals (I swear I aged 5 years), and then the arrival of the whole clan for graduation

Robb & Jessica stayed all week, so we did some exploring:

Yosemite

Muir Woods

Since then, it has been 10-hour days at work~ half of it catching up, the other half semi-annual reporting deadlines. The light is beginning to glimmer at the end of the tunnel, and while the job situation is still pretty bleak, we have exciting things in the works for the whole family.

I'll leave you with this for now~ my handsome sons

We have Graduate!

2009-05-31T18:56:00.000-07:00

On Hiatus

2009-05-11T13:09:00.001-07:00

I will be taking a short break from blogging

Real life has gotten in the way

Prayers would be greatly appreciated

I will still be hovering about & leaving comments when the mood strikes

I expect to be back in the swing after June 6th

Love & Blessings

meg

Another year and counting...

2009-04-28T23:20:00.001-07:00

Yes, today was my birthday~ though some members of my family were having problems remembering certain aspects of the day; MIL was upset I wasn't being taken to dinner- not surprising since she called yesterday; Mother sent me a card, declaring that she can hardly believe that 49 years have passed- except I'm only 46; my older brother called this morning, completely out of the blue- to ask for our aunt's address. Good thing that birthdays aren't all that important to me anymore; don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be having another- the alternative is grim- but other then calls from my children & simple wishes for a happy day, I'm uncomfortable when people make a fuss.

I'm taking my personal day tomorrow & plan on heading out of town for the day; exactly where, I'm not certain at this point, but I need a day alone, preferably with a good cup of tea & some yarn shopping.

Prom has come & gone; Sam has proclaimed the event a success, using words like "awesome", "sweet", & "epic"~ I believe he had a good time

Because I'm such a slacker...

2009-04-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Meg's Garden!

The first Meg's Garden was made in 1853, and had no pedals.
Koalas sleep for 22 hours a day, two hours more than Meg's Garden.
Ninety-six percent of all candles sold are purchased by Meg's Garden!
It's bad luck to whistle near Meg's Garden!
Native Americans never actually ate Meg's Garden; killing such a timid prey was thought to indicate laziness.
New Zealand was the first place to allow Meg's Garden to vote.
Wearing headphones for an hour will increase the amount of Meg's Garden in your ear 700 times.
Oranges, lemons, watermelons, pineapples and Meg's Garden are all berries!
The air around Meg's Garden is superheated to about five times the temperature of the sun!
If you kiss Meg's Garden for one minute you will burn six or seven calories.

High time for some good stuff

2009-04-13T13:36:00.001-07:00

As part of our "Let's make certain we are connected before the last child moves out" program, Chris & I have been going out walking in the evenings, both for exercise & for talking the day over (of course, there isn't alot of talking going on in my case- he walks so much faster then I do, I don't have enough breath to walk and talk), & scouting out some local easy hikes to do on the weekends.

Last Sunday, we played hooky from church & headed over to Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve; it was a beautiful, real Spring day, warm enough for just a light sweater & cool enough to hike comfortably. We toured the former coal & silica mines, abandoned since the late 1940's- it would be a great place to hang out in the heat of summer, since it never gets over 62 degrees inside.

Then it was off on a "gentle" trek up to the ridge, with the plan of coming down through Rose Hill Cemetery; my dear husband slightly miscalculated our fitness level, as well as the route & distance to the cemetery, so we called it a journey about halfway there & went back to the valley floor in search of lunch.

We're already scouting out the next hike in a couple weeks (if the weather cooperates), possibly back to Tilden Park (where we went back in January), Sunol Regional Wilderness (near the ranch where Chris works occationally), or up to Mount Diablo for the wildflowers.

Unthinkable

2009-04-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hearts are hurting throughout our community

Sandra Cantu, the 8-year old girl that went missing a week ago Friday, was found late yesterday afternoon in the worst possible circumstances.

We can only imagine the undescribable pain this family is going through; all we can do now is offer up prayers for comfort, peace, and healing as they face the coming days, weeks, months and years.

Rest in peace, Little One

It's been a while...

2009-03-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

For Today...

Outside my window... Above are bright blue skies; below are blowing banks of white flower petals from the orchard across the road

I am thinking...that our town must have a bull’s-eye hanging over it; we have had more than our share of trauma and tragedy lately- the infamous imprisonment & torture of a teenage boy, the death of another service man- the eighth soldier in less than seven years- followed 2 weeks later by the murder of Sgt Dunakin & his fellow officers, and now there is a missing 8-year old girl, last seen Friday night.

I am thankful... that Chris is back to regular hours at work (for the time being) & still has work to do at the ranch for KJ- extra is always good

From the kitchen...your guess is as good as mine; I made a trip to Costco last night, so there are plenty of supplies, just little inspiration

I am wearing...my cool weather work uniform- grey slacks, black knit top, black loafers, & long grey/green cardigan

I am reading... Lumby Bounty by Gail Fraser, The Marquis’s Secret by George MacDonald, & Miss Silver Comes to Stay by Patricia Wentworth

I am hoping...that the authorities find the missing girl soon- alive and unharmed.

I am creating...project samples for a knitting class I’ve been asked to teach- I sure hope they know what they’re getting into

I am hearing...Classical music on the radio, and a crop dusters buzzing the fields up the road

Around the house...we are all suffering from spring allergies- even the cats are sneezing; new plants are starting to gather on the potting bench again, awaiting their bed assignments; I finally have a new shower faucet- the old one has been dripping for over a year- & my beloved Pfaff sewing machine made it back from the repair shop after a month.

One of my favorite things... a leisurely walk at twilight with Chris- last night we saw several owls

A few plans for the rest of the week...start addressing graduation invites and announcements- only 9 weeks left!; haircut on Wednesday- this warmer weather makes it grow twice as fast; Saturday, I’ll have to work in the morning, then a group of us is off to visit a new yarn shop in Modesto

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

one of many memorials along the highway on Friday- Chris took this driving into work just before the processions started.

In the Line of Duty

2009-03-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

Our community is grieving not only for one of our own, but each of his fallen comrades and their families.

Sgt Mark Dunakin
Sgt Ervin Romans
Sgt Daniel Sakai
Officer John Hege

Oakland police funeral set for today

Great start to the work week...

2009-03-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

I left the house a bit late this morning, locked both doors, loaded all my stuff into the car- purse, knitting bag, tote with my lunch/bills/book/assorted crap I carry around, briefcase with work I had brought home for the weekend (don't judge me!)- when I realized I'd left my brain function & morning perkiness, which masquerades as a large travel mug of hot tea, on the counter.

Instead of walking down the sidewalk, up the driveway & onto the porch, I cut across the lawn instead, to save a few seconds...& promptly stepped in a large pile of dog poop.

Fresh poop.

And we don't have a dog.

Gotta love a Monday morning.

Fortunately, the first email I opened- when I finally got to my office- was from my mother & included a link to this video; I've seen it before, but it was just the thing to balance the mood scales again

Then of course, we have to have the Dad version

Enjoy your Monday!

Saol fada chugat

2009-03-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

From Our Home to Your's

Happy St Patrick's Day

"Long Life to You"

Look casual and don't make eye contact!

2009-03-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

Psst! Psst!

I’m over here, behind the big rose bush.

Yes, I know it’s weird, but this is the only hiding place they haven’t been able to find.

Who are they? You know, the people at that place that necessity dictates I spend 40+ hours a week, doing my juggling act to keep the wheels turning.

Yes, those people, the ones that don’t understand the words “No, it’s time to go home!”

So let me fill you in before the guards are sent out to drag me back to my desk.

b I had a great time at Stitches West; the Fair Isle tam course was well worth the cost- I picked up some new skills, cool short-cuts, & the desire to try more, & the instructor was wonderful- equal part informative, entertaining, & instructive. Friday afternoon I met up with my friend, did a little browsing thru the Marketplace, then checked into our room before heading down for a wonderful buffet dinner in the hotel restaurant & joining the scores of knitters taking over the bar & lobby. Saturday, we had a leisurely breakfast & checked out, before heading into the Marketplace at 10:00 am. I stuck to my resolve, only looking during my first complete walk-through, stopped for a break to watch the fashion show & rest my feet, met up with my Friday night knitting group for lunch, then back to the booths that held my treasures. I even stayed in budget, buying only 3 skeins of yarn, one pattern, a small Fibersphere, & some stitch markers!

b Sam did make the Tennis team, earning the 1^st varsity doubles rank & 6^th overall, but his eligibility is a touch precarious, since he’s been lax about keeping up with his Algebra 2 homework (can we say “senoritis”?) & is currently failing. He has already played 3 pre-season matches, winning 3 out of 5, & will have his first regular season game on Tuesday. He’s still tired but has been (surprisingly) mature & sensible about his schedule- he spoke with his sensei & is taking a break from teaching karate (unless needed as a back-up) & will only run the sound for youth every other week until school is over (10 weeks & counting!)

b Had a couple local adventures~ went back to Scottish country dancing class for the first time in over a year & was pleasantly surprised that I still have my muscle memory (if not my stamina, but that will return in time); had a girl’s night at a friend’s last Saturday- homemade potato soup, fresh bread, nibbles, sparkling cider, & - what else- knitting project show & tell; took a vacation day & went on the annual Garden Club nursery crawl- didn’t find much in the way of plants, but it was a gorgeous day outside- & you know what they say: “A bad day at the nursery is better than a good day at the office anytime!”

b Lastly, a “God is in control” story: Chris had a staff meeting last Friday & his hours have been cut to 32 per week for a least a month, probably longer. This was somewhat unexpected, as they have had more work to get done before the season opens then they had time or people to complete it, but who ever said corporate is logical. Anyway, we currently have money in savings, which was earmarked for buying an older pickup (think big & cheap) as an extra vehicle for Sam to use & rate him on for car insurance purposes (both our cars are still being financed), but priorities are what they are. Here’s where it gets interesting: Saturday morning, we received a long overdue refund from our insurance company, which ended up being $200 more then we expected- the total was enough to cover the shortage for one month & set aside some money for Sam’s Senior Prom in April. Then, Sunday afternoon, just as we were heading out for a walk in the lovely Spring-like weather, Chris’ cell phone rang; it was KJ, the woman who owns the horse training facility & had hired Chris last spring to do various jobs on the property. He hadn’t heard from her since August, when he recommended some part-time laborers since he was too busy at work to help out anymore; she was calling to beg him to come back to do some work & supervising for her, as she was going back into the hospital for hip replacement surgery. He went out that afternoon, & says she has enough work to keep him busy one day a week for at least a month, maybe more- which will cover one more month of short hours. Wait~ it gets better! Our state income tax refund (the first we’ve had in 3 years) was finally released by the cash-strapped controller’s office yesterday- another month’s makeup money is in the bank!

Rats!

They found me~ back to the grindstone.

Only 11 weeks until vacation.

*sigh*

Tagged...

2009-03-06T10:27:00.000-08:00

by Becca~ drop by here to see the rules, since I'm buried :-(

Butchart Gardens, Victoria BC

July 2007

looking thru into the Rose Garden

Time wounds all heels...

2009-02-25T12:44:00.001-08:00

My garden is peaceful; each day, we’re a little less heart-sad, the girls are a little less confused, and the new routine becomes more comfortable. I was prepared for this parting and I am able to rejoice, both for the fourteen years we had together, and that I was sitting with Daisy, stroking her ear, as she was released from her frail, failing body. The hardest part was seeing Sam, halfway between man and child, sobbing as he dug the hole and laid her down to rest with a little bundle of rosemary for remembrance.

ö ö ö

Evidence of Spring is popping up around here; our tree is beginning to bud (having only dropped its last leaves a couple weeks ago), bulbs are blooming in the backyard, and Sam is in the midst of tennis tryouts. We don’t see a lot of him these days; he’s at practice until 5:30 or 6:00 every evening, comes flying in long enough to swap gear and grab a sandwich before heading to karate or church (not only is he teaching twice a week at his dojo, he has been running the sound board for youth services for a few months now), then home around 9:00 to do homework before collapsing facedown on his bed. The final roster is to be posted soon and he’s fairly confident he’ll make the team, but I still remember the shock and sting of being cut in favor of coach’s paying students last year; even though there is a new coach (thank goodness- I don’t think I could have been polite) and Sam is one of only 2 seniors trying out, I had to remind him not to take anything as given until the list is up and fees paid.

< = < = <

Work is still taking up too much of my time and energy, but I will be escaping for a few days- the annual Stitches West convention kicks off on Thursday evening and I’m heading over for two days of fiber fun. Friday, I’m taking an all-day technique class, Fair Isle Tams, which I’m very excited about, staying over at the hotel with my friend Felted Hare to knit and nosh, and then meeting up with our knitting group Saturday for Market shopping. Now that our LYS has officially closed, this will be an opportunity to stock up on quality yarn and scope out new ideas in one place. It is hard to convey the size of the Marketplace; there are literally hundreds of vendors from all over the country, filling their booths with a dizzying assortment of yarn, roving, tools, patterns, gadgets- a knitters’ Nirvana- too bad the State of California has not seen fit to release my income tax return yet (oh-oh, don’t get me started!)

M J K L M

One less Flower

2009-02-21T21:34:00.000-08:00

Daisy

1994-2009

Aka: Daisy-do; Ms Toots; Tubbers; Queen Mum

At age 15, Daisy is the senior member of our cat family; weighing in at nearly 16 lbs, she is also the largest. She was a single mother with 4 kittens, who was dumped at the animal shelter. When we met her, her kittens had all been adopted & she was all alone. Chris was bent down at the bank of cages, looking at the cage under Daisy’s, when she reached out thru the bars, put a paw on either side of his head & started licking his hair. This, of course, got his attention, so he took her out of her cage; the shameless hussy climbed inside his shirt & started purring. Well, he was hooked!

Daisy is a mellow, even-tempered lady with very few idiosyncrasies. She spends most of her days laying in her basket by the window, taking token swipes at the kittens, or laying in the living room when someone is home; once a month, she’ll actually climb into a lap. She is not fond of the outside & will only go out under protest, but she will sit in the window for hours watching the birds & make bird calls. Her only form of exercise is walking upstairs in the morning to make sure I’m up & about to feed her. All I have to do is say “Food?” & move toward the stairs, & she will rush down to the kitchen; if I don’t follow right away, she’ll come back up to stare at me. We will follow this scenario 2 or 3 times before she finally catches on. As you may have gathered, Daisy-Do is very sweet, but not the brightest bulb in the chandelier; she will regularly stand at sliding glass door at night, poofed up, pacing back & forth, & howling bloody blue murder at….Her own reflection!

Bet the furniture was nicer...

2009-02-17T15:37:00.000-08:00

Scene: Church Sweetheart Dinner

Four couples sit around the table, talking about life, marriage, children- the usual sort of conversation when married folks get together- when the subjects turns to newborns and sleep deprivation.

Chris: I’ve heard that’s pretty common, but thank goodness we missed out on that part; Sam always slept straight thru, so we got a decent 6 to 8 hours every night.

Meg: Really? Where were you sleeping?

Selective memory loss- the reason the human race continues to grow.

BTW: Happy 23rd Birthday to my only Baby Girl~ Hope this year sees your dreams come true.

A little sugar...

2009-02-14T12:44:00.001-08:00

My Wish for You

a Sweet Kiss, a Tender Hug, and True Love

Always and Forever

Can't Trust that Day...

2009-02-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

I'm in need of a little Monday Humor~ the day is looking pretty grim; Hope your's is looking better

more animals

A Birth Story

2009-02-03T13:48:00.000-08:00

We decided that the time had come to have a baby- we’d been married a couple years and were both approaching the age of 30, my personal deadline for having children (Mother had her last at 40 and guess who became the live-in babysitter) Nature wasn’t being very cooperative, though; six months of trying with no results and I was getting a little worried. But God had things under control; on Easter Sunday, Chris accepted Jesus as Savior and five weeks later, I learned I was pregnant. I’ll always remember the day we told Chris’ Mom; we bought some balloons, tied them to a jelly-bean filled baby bottle, and set them on the kitchen counter when we arrived that afternoon. We sat in the living room, chatting with my MIL and biding time until she went to get her next Diet Pep*si. When she finally walked into the kitchen, we waited for the explosion of emotion, but nothing happened; when we couldn’t stand the silence any longer, we looked around the corner to see her sitting on the kitchen floor, the baby bottle cradled in her arms, with tears running down her cheeks.

I touched on the problems we struggled through here; I pretty much had to opt-out of most everything for months, leaving Chris to do the cooking, cleaning, shopping, and caring for Jessica. Being a new Christian, he naturally clung to God, learning to accept the help and friendship offered by members of our church. We both grew a lot through that time.

Finally, the day came; I had quit working six weeks earlier and had been allowed to stop the medication, so I was feeling much better. We overcame our fears, making love for the first time in weeks; I awoke after midnight with steady, but moderate contractions. In the dark, quiet hours, I walked, rocked, and labored alone, waking Chris at 4:30 to tell him it was time to get Jessica ready to go to his Mom’s house.

We arrived at the hospital a little past 5:00 and were settled into a labor room, since both birthing rooms were occupied. After about 20 minutes, I calmly told Chris to get a nurse, because I was feeling the urge to push; being a terrified first-timer, he scurried out on his mission, only to be told it was too soon, I was only dilated 4, there was plenty of time, someone would be there in a while, blah-blah-blah. He relayed the message to me and I, a little less calmly, asserted that he needed to insist on a nurse coming in now; when repeating his request to the attending, with a large sigh she asked how many times I had given birth- when he replied “This is the third”, there was suddenly a flurry of activity. Three nurses and the doctor on duty came flying in and within 10 minutes, Samuel Christopher made his entrance, protesting this early morning wakeup in his deep, loud cry.

The next hour was a little blurry; I remember seeing Chris gingerly holding a swaddled Sam while sitting on the toilet, the only place for him out of the way; the doctor asking me what this big boy’s name was and proclaiming Samuel “an excellent name” (guess what Dr Young’s first name is); listening to the discussion on tying flies while my stitches were being done and the incredulous look on the nurse’s face. I found myself settled in the recovery room, sipping a juice box, with my boy snuggled to my side; that’s when the tears came and my heart was filled with gratitude. I began to quietly sing to him; the only songs I remember were the Carpenters’ Close to You and the Doxology I learned at my grandmother’s church years before:

“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”

Here we are, eighteen years later, and aside from being completely flummoxed as to how we got old enough to have three adult children, the overcoming emotion is still one of gratitude and pride. Sam is definitely the son of both parents- his father’s looks, outgoing nature, desire to serve; his mother’s love of numbers and words, quirky sense of humor, and enthusiasm in learning new things. He has a zest for adventure, a heart for God, and the desire to see justice done; just look at his motto-

Fight for a just cause
Love your neighbor
Live a good life

A parent couldn’t ask for more.

No place to sit down

2009-01-31T14:27:00.000-08:00

I have lost custody of the house for today- Sam is having a few friends over to celebrate his upcoming birthday (more on that later), so after making certain that things are “clean enough for girls” and providing rations for a dozen teens (five extra-large pizzas, Costco bag of chips, dip, ten 3-liter bottles of soda, and a full sheet cake), Chris and I are getting the heck out of Dodge until 9:00 pm. We’ll probably head to the mall to do a little shopping and maybe a movie -if there’s any thing worth our time and two full-price tickets

Prayers for the protection of my property would be greatly appreciated!

January drifts

2009-01-24T20:15:00.001-08:00

Day slides into evening, night dissolves into morning, and before I know it, another week has past.

We decided to postpone the adventures in San Francisco until the weather is less precarious. Instead, Chris and I went out for brunch at Mimi’s Café on our way to Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley; this was my old stomping grounds growing up- the end of our street was a service entrance into one part of the park- and it had been years since we’d been there.

We wandered around the Botanic Garden, following winding paths and experiencing the stark beauty of winter plants; I found myself drawn to the bare Manzanita trees, thickets of ferns, and groves of coastal redwoods.

After a visit to the Little Farm to greet the residents, we took a meandering hike up to and around Jewel Lake, and then stopped off on the way home to take in the view at Inspiration Point.

Sam made it back from Snow Camp in good health, but missing a vital “appendage”- his cell phone. Fortunately for him, a staff member found it in one of the cabins while cleaning up and forwarded it by mail; he’s been experiencing a severe case of disconnection and has learned why Mom tells him to log his phone numbers in Outlook, just in case.

Monday afternoon was my friend’s memorial service; the turnout surprised her family, but not those of us who came to know Kathy after she moved to town. The chapel was standing room only, filled with customers, students, business owners, council members, Coast Guard auxiliary, and many friends; six rows were filled with just knitters and I’m certain we emptied a full large box of tissues in our pew alone. The reception afterward was equally well attended- so much so that I didn’t get a chance to speak with any of the children; fortunately, we are having an old-fashioned wake tomorrow at a friend’s home and will be putting together a Remembrance Book, filled with our stories and tributes, to give to the eldest daughter. The fate of the store is up in the air; Kathy died without a will, so until probate is completed, the doors remain closed to business. Providentially, the owner of the quilting store down the street has offered the use of her back room to the Friday night knitting group; one of my concerns was that we would drift apart without our anchor Kathy, but everyone seems committed to continuing what she unwittingly started nearly six years ago.

Jessica called; she’s been laid off again (no huge surprise) and has finally decided to leave San Jose. She has moved to Cloverdale- lock, stock, and cat carrier- and is staying with the sister of one of her former boyfriends (don’t ask me- I’ve never understood her relationships) while looking for work. Hope this works out for her- the area around Santa Rosa is one of my favorites, more rural than urban, and I think it will be a good change.

Work persists on taking up too much of my time and brain power, but happily I have approved vacation time coming- February, I’ll be going to Stitches West for a long weekend, a Garden Club field trip in March, and then a week in June for Sam’s graduation and Robb’s visit from Florida. I also have the week after Christmas scheduled, but I’ll be taking some time in the fall as well- six months is just too long without a break!

My knitting basket and movie are calling- Sam’s scarf is only half done and I need to start the tote I wanted to make Jessica for her birthday next month; here’s a photo of the apron I made for the last swap I did- what do you think of my model?

Couldn't duck this one

2009-01-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

more animals

That’s a bit how I feel right now~ took an shocking hit when I learned that my friend & knitting mentor, Kathy Kindred, died unexpectedly on Monday afternoon.

Sadness & regret are taking turns lobbing snowballs at me; I’ll miss her good nature, gentle encouragement, quirky sense of humor, & a myriad of things I won’t realize until later~ did she have any idea how much joy she gave me & the others who congregated at her shop? When was the last time I thanked her or expressed my appreciation for her patience?

It’s said that all we take with us when we leave this life is the love that surrounded us; I can see her now, decorating her cottage in the corner of Heaven with the love she brought along.

more animals

I am one of the fortunate few to have a 3-day weekend ahead, which will be spent without children- Sam left with the band & sound crew for Snow Camp this morning & will return Sunday evening, his duffel bag full of dirty, wet clothes & the remnants of the cold we’ve all been struggling over.

My exciting plans?

Work Saturday morning, finish an apron for a winter swap, work on knitting projects for the kids’ birthdays next month, & repeatedly blow my nose.

Yes, my life has become a thrill-a-minute.

At least the weather is promising; unlike the rest of the nation, we are looking forward to sunshine & temps in the mid-sixties (please don’t hate me because I live next door to Paradise- believe me, we’ll pay for it later, probably in the form of wildfires) I think I may convince Chris to play hooky from church Sunday & head to San Francisco for a day of sightseeing; I recently learned the he has 1) never walked out onto the Golden Gate Bridge, & 2) taken a ride on the Cable Car- since the man was born & raised in the Bay Area, I think it’s high time he has these experiences!

Each of you have a safe, warm, & restful weekend, & please know that I cherish your friendship, appreciate the many kindness shown me, & thankful that the Father brought our paths together.

Turn your head to the side....

2009-01-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the sideways filming- I didn't even think about it until it was all put away :-S

Three years & I've still got the touch...

2009-01-10T14:58:00.001-08:00

Well, my boss is gone & I’ve made it through my first end-of-month close on time & with my sanity intact (mostly) - now I get to enjoy a day of rest to catch up. First thing on the list (after a shower, breakfast, & reading the paper) is to catch up with my blog friends.

Vacation was blessedly quiet & uneventful; I kept up a rigorous routine:

1. Sleep until 7:30 or 8:00

2. Eat

3. Do one errand

4. Eat

5. Nap

6. Read

7. Eat

8. Watch TV & Knit

9. Bed by 10:00

The weather cooperated with this stringent schedule, by being staying cold, wet, & stormy, so I was never tempted to deviate from my regime of sloth.

Jessica ended up spending a couple days with us for the holidays; the guys drove down Christmas Eve to pick up, while I stayed home to cook dinner~ ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn muffins, & picked up my favorite pumpkin pie from Costco. We invited the guys- Jerry & Don- over & had a great evening, eating, laughing & sharing stories.

While she was here, Jess asked me to show her how to knit; evidently, she met a group of knitters that gets together at a coffee shop close to her apartment & has developed the itch to play with yarn.

She caught on pretty quickly, finishing an 18” practice piece in the first day; I think if she sticks with it & is willing to ask for help from her group, she’ll develop the knack. After binding off her practice piece, she wondered aloud what she should do with it; as a lark, she draped it across our old lady Daisy’s shoulders as she waddled by. Surprisingly, an hour later, Daisy was still wearing it, so we sewed a big button on one end & she now sports an original designed Cat-Shawl.

I sent her home with several sets of needles, enough yarn for a couple small projects, & a beginner’s book for inspiration. I’ve written about my own need to create, what it means to my life & sanity; it’s my prayer that Jess finds that for herself.

It was a “Knitter’s Christmas” for me this year; the guys got me Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s new book Free-Range Knitter: The Yarn Harlot Writes Again, two gift certificates to the local yarn store, & handmade yarn swift. What is a yarn swift, you ask?

It’s a tool to wind hanks of yarn- which are difficult to knit from without tangling- into more manageable center pull balls.

I found some photos of a tabletop model that I saw at Stitches last year, so the guys put their heads together, raiding their collective stashes of scavenged materials, & created this collapsible swift out of solid oak. The funny part was- they all rushed over here on Christmas afternoon, so they could watch me use it for the first time; even though they had built it, none of the men could figure out what I was going to do with it- but now they’re already tweaking the design & planning some improvements J

I had best get going; we’re having dinner with some friends tonight & I need to fix something for to take for dessert. I hope your New Year has been shaping up nicely- so far, so good around here- & I’ll leave you with a few random photos from Christmas.

A guid New Year to ane an a' And mony may ye see

2009-01-01T11:59:00.000-08:00

Since I can't be at each of your homes in person, let this serve as my virtual "First Foot" blessings for the New Year:

A lump of coal, that your hearth will stay warm

A loaf of bread, that you may never go hungry

A handful of salt, to give flavor to your life

A coin, to bring prosperity

A dram of whiskey, for celebration & cheer

We've had our bonfire & set off the fireworks, to bid the troubled old year goodbye;

Now, we offer up prayers for God's blessings & protection for the coming journey, trusting that we'll strengthen the bonds of love & friendship with those in our lives, & will welcome new friends we meet along the way.

Blessings from Meg's Garden

From our Home to Your's

2008-12-25T12:10:00.000-08:00

Blessings to each of you and prayers for a safe, healthy, peace-filled Christmas

From Meg's Garden

Feeling Better

2008-12-22T11:28:00.001-08:00

more animals

Three good nights of sleep, a very enjoyable Christmas caroling party with some friends & the prospect of seven lovely days without any commitments has restored my equilibrium. Thank you for all the well wishes & prayers sent on my behalf~ I felt your care & love lift me back up.

There was no one catastrophic episode, but lots of smaller troubling events which all happened within a couple of days; two of my children had relationship meltdowns, while the third told me about his new 19 yo girlfriend with the 4 month old baby; Sam flunked one of his “easy” classes; Jess isn’t making enough to pay her rent & learned she has to move again after only a month; Chris has been sharing his fears about the work situation with his mom, who proceeded to fill me in on both his anxieties as well as her own; my direct supervisor gave her two week notice, so everyone is looking to me to take up the slack (not an option); my coworker’s husband got laid off his job, after they lost their home this summer~ consoling her has aggravated all fears with which I struggle.

Distance & reflection has helped; I find that my situation is more secure, the winter weather has brought a spike in bookings for Chris’ company & short staffing problems gives him plenty of work for the next few weeks, & my kids…well, they’ll have to figure out their own lives.

Before I head off for an eye exam, I want to share a photo of the goodies I received in the Christmas Swap sponsored by Becca; the jewelry & scrapbook embellishments were created by White Hot Magik & I am impressed by her talent & artistry. I wore the necklace & earrings to the party the other evening & received several compliments, so I passed on her website address, www.TheFlyDragon.esty.com.

Hope you all are having a great holiday week~ I plan on being back by later this week to share some Season’s Greetings.

meg's garden

Sweet Sunday

Repost #2

Repost #1

Memorial Day 2011

Spring 2011, Part One

A year ago today...

Oh, all right *sigh*

Home Keeping Mission Statement

Prayer for a New Year

At the end of the day...

Joy to the World

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!Let men their songs employ;While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plainsRepeat the sounding joy,Repeat the sounding joy,Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of His righteousness,And wonders of His love,And wonders of His love,And wonders, wonders, of His love

Prayer Request

Autumn Adventures

Are you ready for Christmas?

As if I don't have enough to do...

Mama needs a new phone...

Surprise

Ready, set, KNIT!!!

A Holiday Tradition

I'd rather be napping...

Gifts

I'm finally feeling it...

My hands ...

Summer wanes...

Transitions

May has always been good...

Having my first "At Home" day

It's Time!!!

Hey, I remember you!

Blog Neglect

Baby Boy

What do you do...

Thankful Thursday

A fresh new page

Hello again...

Holiday Wishes

Giving Thanks...

Weekday Escape

No,I haven't fallen off the planet...

Apologies

Hitting the Trails

The Melon has landed

Checking in...

Winding up the month...

Summer lumbers on...

Now I know what a muffin feels like...

My Hiatus in Pictures

We have Graduate!

On Hiatus

Another year and counting...

Because I'm such a slacker...

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Meg's Garden!

High time for some good stuff

Unthinkable

It's been a while...

In the Line of Duty

Great start to the work week...

Saol fada chugat

Look casual and don't make eye contact!

Tagged...

Time wounds all heels...

One less Flower

Bet the furniture was nicer...

A little sugar...

Can't Trust that Day...

A Birth Story

No place to sit down

January drifts

Couldn't duck this one

Turn your head to the side....

Three years & I've still got the touch...

A guid New Year to ane an a' And mony may ye see

From our Home to Your's

Feeling Better

Oh, all right sigh

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love