wildly simple

Nana

2016-09-05T14:25:00.000-05:00

My grandma June passed away this weekend at the age of 91.
Nana (what most of us grandkids called her) was a part of so many lives, perhaps something a little different to each of us. This is what she was to me.
She was the oldest of three sisters and little brother, Jackie. Her parents were Metta & Ernest Stewart. I never knew her dad, but Great Grandma Stewart lived a near-century life as well. Nana always called her "Mother."
She married my grandpa, John Darvin Simmons when she was 17. Had her first child at 20 (8 pounds, 8 ounces), delivering 11 babies over the course of 22 years, with children under her roof for 4 decades. I thought of her often during my own uncomfortable 3rd and 4th pregnancies. Eleven. Uffda.
She had 29 grandchildren, 50+ great grandchildren, and half a dozen great-great grandchildren. Her genes carry on through nearly a hundred of us. Surprisingly, Mason and Eric are the only twins. (But they are definitely not the only ones with cowlicks.)
Add son- and daughter-in-laws, spouses and more, and family gatherings have always been big. Holidays were a full house growing up.
When I was very small, she had horses named Sugarfoot and Feiry (I've never tried to spell this horse's name before, I may have it wrong), an accordion, and a little dog named Heidi.
Nana often stayed for extended periods with us when I was growing up. We played many hands of rummy and games of 10,000. She was not one to play down to grandchildren, we had to learn to play up to her. She was always working on crocheting a blanket (one for each new baby and graduation in the family) and had a game of solitaire, a crossword, or puzzle of some kind going. Nana was sharp and her handwriting was beautiful.
A fine seamstress, she altered my wedding dress with skilled hand. Her chocolate chip cookies were thick. It made her smile with satisfaction that my kids always drank all their milk. She did not like heights and didn't drive. She was a weather watcher.
While she lived and traveled often between northern Iowa and northern Minnesota, she lived fairly close by most of my life. We were even neighbors for a short while; we lived in an apartment 2 doors down for 6 months while building our house.
She was a meticulous housekeeper and laundress. She ironed.
I preferred visiting with Nana one-on-one in my adult years. When there wasn't a crowd, she had much to say. I enjoyed hearing her memories of being pulled to school over snowdrifts in a horse drawn sled, with heated slates tucked under wool blankets to keep their feet warm.
She carried with her memories of the Great Depression, her husband was wounded by shrapnel in the South Pacific in WWII, and she sent sons off to Vietnam. She saw great change in her lifetime and wondered more and more what our world was coming to. She disliked the internet.
She was healthy the majority of her 91 years, declining rapidly this past week.
Thinking of her kids, as it's been a tough and tiring time for them.
She is remembered by many.

My maternal grandparents, June & John Simmons

Nana with her 10 kids, Thompson Park Family Reunion 1988-ish

Nana and I, my wedding day 1997

Nana, Johnathan & Beau on her 90th birthday, 2015

Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas

2016-01-23T17:07:00.003-06:00

Last April we went on a Californian adventure so overwhelmingly full and varying in sights and experiences, I didn't know where to begin when we got home. (I think we began by heading straight to the Canadian border for a high school baseball game. Life doesn't pause.)
With some time gone by, many highlights stand out on their own.
Recollecting one of them today..

After making our way down the breathtaking Big Sur Coast, 80+ miles of intense hairpin twists, turns, and cliffs behind us, our route evened out more low and smooth. We'd had a full day already and were content as we settled into cruising speed and wide open spaces. The ocean at our side, the late afternoon sun shining down, the Pacific Coast Highway stretched out in front of us.

Cruising along, I spotted what I thought were a good number of seals between curves in the shoreline. A few miles further along, no doubt about it, I glimpsed more.
Then, I almost couldn't believe my eyes.
We'd reached the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seals.

We pulled into the gravel parking lot off the highway. No visitor center, no tourist shop, just a great long boardwalk for respectful viewing of thousands of these creatures.
I was tickled pink!

At one time, humans had killed elephant seals to near extinction. They were thought to be extinct in the late 1880s. Now protected, they are one of the greatest recoveries our continent has seen.
At this site there were no elephant seals before 1990. Now it's a safe haul out site for birthing, breeding, molting and resting for several thousand of them. (About 17,000 according to Friends of the Elephant Seal.)

The giant adult males (the ones who give elephant seals their names with their trunk-like noses) were off diving the oceans deep during our April visit. Adult males can weigh up to 7 times more than adult females.. up to 5,000 pounds. I've seen video of those bulls, who fight violent, bloody battles. They are a sight! We visited the rookery at a more peaceful time when the "cuter" females and juveniles were there to molt.
Elephant seals go through what is called a "catastrophic molt." They were at all different phases. Some looked rough and tattered as they shed their old skin. Others looked velvety smooth. Juvenile males practiced fighting, but there was mostly a lot of napping or jostling for a better napping position going on.

Mitch didn't seem as smitten with the elephant seals as I was. Maybe he thought they were awkward and made rude sounds and had snotty noses. (This was true. They smelled strongly, too.) But I could have watched and taken photos 'til the sun went down. There's just something about observing wildlife in its natural habitat. I was absolutely enthralled with these seals! Everything about them was interesting; their behavior.. how some were so still it seemed they couldn't possibly be alive.. I'd watch until they'd finally take a breath. How others seemed intent on jostling, pestering, or stealing a spot. The noise. The way they use their flippers like fingers to scratch their bellies. The way they flip sand onto themselves. The trails they left on the beach.

I had a hard time tearing myself away.
There were so many of them! Even Mitch agrees that aspect was pretty neat to see.

When we got home I was intrigued to learn all about elephant seals. They are remarkable deep divers with fascinating physical features that allow them to do so.
If you're ever in the San Simeon / Piedras Blancas area, you've got to stop and see this safe haven of theirs..
It was an unforgettable experience.

Peace, Love, and So Many Seals!

Sharing with Our World
and Eileen's Critters

Five Things That Shaped Our Year [2015]

2016-01-01T02:19:00.000-06:00

For about 15 years, I wrote an annual Christmas letter. I stopped last year, but it's still a time I like to reflect, and I have been.
A year. 365 days. 525,600 minutes. What shaped them? What really mattered to us?
Our days, weeks, and months are pretty full. But these five things came to me clearly as the highlights, milestones, changes, and challenges that shaped our 2015.

1. Mitch and I visited Yosemite / Kings Canyon / Sequoia National Parks.
The first book we bought as a young married couple was a book on National Parks. I had dreamed of visiting Yosemite ever since.
Yosemite was just one of the highlights on our 2015 adventure. Mitch especially appreciated the Giant Sequoias. We cruised down Big Sur, where we spotted gray whales swimming below us from a cliff. We saw (smelled, and heard) the Piedras Blancas elephant seals near San Simeon. These were fantastic experiences to add to our life's collection.

2. Wookie joined our family.
8 months old, she's currently on her first pheasant hunting trip. Those of us who stayed home feel like home is a little incomplete without her. A certain 8 year old boy can't wait to hug her when she gets back. Wookie has left her paw print on our 2015, and no doubt, our lives from here on out. The level of adoration for her in this family is through the roof. So is her character.

3. Mason and Eric are in their senior year. We gained adult children.
Since their 18th birthday, I've been asked a lot what it's like to have adult kids. For now it's the same. They go to school and basketball practice, haul firewood, help out, and make it home by their same old curfew. But times are changing for our family. I felt it Christmas morning, as I did throughout the year, the value of the here and now in 2015. It mattered a great deal to me to focus on our family of seven before these two are off to take on their future.
(They've both zeroed in on pursuing education in the electrical field after high school.)

4. Doing what's best for each of our kids involved changes this year.
They've been kind of big, sometimes challenging, and a little scary. But we did it. And we're so glad!

Lilly (11) marched into a new school with ten times as many kids in her grade as her old one.. with a sureness I was in awe and admiration of. She is so happy. I am so happy for her.
She ran her first 5k and played in her first band performance (alto sax). Those six graders and their instructor knocked my socks off.
What I wanted most for my daughter was that she be able to soar confidently in her own sky, whatever that may be. - Helen Claes

Beau and Johnathan are attending 3rd and 7th grades right here at home, with me as their primary educator. It's challenging, but I respect the academy and curriculum they're a part of, and I'm amazed at all we're learning and accomplishing together. We're being rewarded with the sure knowledge that they're learning, gaining, and happy.
We like being happy around here.
Bonus: While they're learning better than ever, they're also getting to spend much more time outdoors. We like fresh air, too!

(Johnathan, 13, has grown over 5 inches this year.)

5. Every year has its ups and downs.
A challenge for us this year was worrying about the health of one of our kids. Beau had episodes of fainting / severe drops in blood pressure throughout 2015. We don't know what's caused this, but he had a boatload of tests and procedures that all let us know (after first putting me through the wringer) that Beau's heart is strong and healthy, and all is well inside his thinking cap. What have we gained from this? Beau has kept my focus pretty sharp on what matters. I'm an extremely thankful mom as we wrap up 2015.

"I think this is how we're supposed to be in the world - present and in awe." - Ann Lamott

I started writing this New Year's Eve. It's now well past midnight.
Peace, Love, and Happy 2016!

Mysterious Legends, Mischievious Characters

2015-11-08T01:00:00.001-06:00

Another October has come and gone, and with it - Halloween. I'd been scheming of ways we could bypass Halloween this year with some fun alternative thing instead. My brainstorming involved a pool for the kids to swim in and a book for me to read.
It was highly appealing.

Then at the last minute, enthusiasm kicked in and I worked impromptu the day of Halloween to create costumes for the kids.

Lilly chose to be Pippi Longstocking.
We had fun getting her braids to stick out. Amazingly, they stayed the whole evening.
We rummaged closets for Pippi attire and I sewed a smock in short order, cut from an old denim slipcover. My sewing is crude. I don't have the patience to follow a pattern. But for quick creative hacks on Halloween.. it works!

Beau announced last minute he was going to be a golfer. (All October he'd talked only of being spy.)
Some argyle, his favorite beard, a golf club from the garage (none of us golf.. I have no idea where they came from) and he was set.

Pippi of the North Woods and Golf Legend Man

Some friends had invited us to join them trick-or-treating. We had a wonderful time!
This was our first time ever trick-or-treating door to door in town. (The kids' and my own!)
We'd only gone to rural friends, family and neighbors all our years before.
We hit up some fun neighborhoods with houses and yards decorated to all degrees. It was fun seeing the costumes lining the sidewalks. The kids got a haul of treats. Only a few people said Golf Legend Man looked too old for trick-or-treating. ;)   All in all - a very family friendly, festive Halloween evening.

Due to timing, we missed Marianne for the first time in our Halloween history as her neighbor. (17 years!) She was anxious to see what goblins or get-ups we'd have this year, so we agreed to stop the next day.

Johnathan had decided to sit this Halloween out, but we convinced him to don a little disguise just for Marianne.
We weren't going to attempt Pippi hair again, so improvised once more. Lilly became an art museum thief, wearing her brother's too-big shoes and all. Her sneakers are all too brightly colored.

Stoic Aviator, The Mona Lisa Bandit, and the return of Golf Legend Man.

We hopped in the Ranger and were off. It looked like I was traveling with a bunch of incognito robbers on some great heist this All Hallows Day.

The Aviator in charge of navigation:

Golf Legend Man holds onto his hat.

And the Mona Lisa Bandit rides shotgun as she cooks up a scheme.

Marianne loved it.

These are all phone photos. I recently took pictures of the kids with my actual camera. Will share soon.

I often wonder why we celebrate Halloween.
Then I'm reminded once again that I'm pretty sure we do it to have fun.
And we did.

Peace, Love, and Strange Traditions,

PS: I just spent some time looking back at Halloweens past.. I'm noticing a definite tend in my last minute enthusiasm and preparation!
Happy Trails in 2014
An Old Man, a Mummy, and a Pirate, 2013
Moonlighting as a Costume Designer in 2012 (Featuring That Totally Creepy Carrot!)
A Gnome, Vampire, and Wizard, Last Minute in 2011

Wild Sumac, Fall Color Feast

2015-10-20T15:21:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite features of fall is the turning of the wild sumac around us.
Sumac are considered shrubs, or rarely small trees. We're lucky to have them surrounding our home in small tree form, and each day of early fall they are a dramatic sight to watch as their leaves change color.

Sumac gets its name from the word red.
Our variety is called Staghorn Sumac, for the velvety branches that resemble the velvet on an antler as it grows.

All that's left on the sumac today are the fuzzy fruit spikes on bare branches.
These turn a bold crimson that stand out against the white of winter, often the only color to be found in our backyard for months. Come spring, if the robins are hard up for things to eat upon their return, they'll clear the fruit in a matter of a few hours.

I appreciated this year's fall color feast more than any I remember. Each day, I woke to the view of a big maple in our backyard framed from our upstairs window and feasted my eyes on the rich colors.
Our fall world is very much a "feast before the famine." As the last leaves fall, we'll enter a monochromatic landscape for the long winter months ahead.

I'm thankful to have observed another beautiful season as the sumac turned.

Peace, Love, and sharing with Our World,

The days are too short and for that, I'm thankful.

2015-10-14T17:10:00.002-05:00

I had a moment to read a blog post during lunch today (which has now become a couple of weeks ago.. once again time fell short, my words remained in limbo) about bloggers who disappear.
I felt the urge to peep in and say "Hello! I'm still around!"

There are seasons in life when it takes all I've got to do the things that need to be done, only to wake and start all over again, without ever finding the time to do all of the things I want to do.
During these years of raising children, preteens and teens, I've often found myself marveling at the fullness of life and hearing the words of John Burroughs in my mind..
"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."
That includes many of you, my modern day pen pals and friends. I prefer to write and visit much more regularly, but til then - I'm still here!

Speaking of seasons, Fall is here. We had a beautiful, lingering-summer kind of September.
First frosts arrived late and gently. The leaves took their sweet time reaching a colorful peak. Fall hasn't rushed this year, but taken it easy on us. I'm thankful for that, and the beauty that sustains me between the typical bustle of the season.

What's been filling my days?
Two teenagers, two preteens, and the sweetest 8 year old boy I know. A marriage of nearing 2 decades, something I cherish. I've always revered that word, cherish.. which means not only to love and adore, but to protect and care for. A puppy.. There's never a dull moment with a puppy in the house.

Mason & Eric have entered their senior year of high school and many are asking, "What are their plans? What will they do next?" There is a lot to be considered at this time. I think young people often feel pressure to have adult life all figured out before they've even been out there to live it a little. There are so many options and directions to go.
I wanted to soak up this final summer with all of our "kids", before they begin leaving the nest. Of course, there were things that borrowed our attention, and it was too short for all the trips I wanted to take. But it was good.
As Mason & Eric near their 18th birthday, I'm adapting to the idea of adult children. The value of each day is known to me. We carved a little time out of an afternoon recently to take some senior photos of them.. it's a start.

Two pre-teens. Lilly, 11 and Johnathan, 12. As Johnathan nears his 13th birthday, he's changed so rapidly that my brain is still thinking.. weren't you just a little boy a few months ago? While he's an incredibly thoughtful and easy kid to be around, this is a trying time at certain moments. His moods aren't as predictable as they've been all his life prior. I know that if I made it through in one piece with twins, the others should be a piece of cake.. I learned much from Mason & Eric. Raising twin infants, toddlers, and adventurous MacGyver/Davy Crockett-like little boys was a lot of work, but a breeze in comparison to the days when their voices began to change and they started to shave. These were the years that both challenged and worried me most.
Lilly is right at Johnathan's heels in these joys of adolescence. Our doctor told us not to be surprised if she were to pass Johnathan up for a while. She's still most part little girl, but we see glimpses of the teenage years to come and the young lady she's becoming.
We made changes in school environments this fall that we feel are best for both of these two as they grow and learn in today's changing world. The long hours of weighing decisions have been rewarded.. We're off to a fantastic new school year.

Beau. The most charming, caring, and intuitive 8 year old I know. He had some health issues beginning Memorial weekend, which has been at the top of our concerns in life.
It's hard for me to put into words - that it was the worst scare I've ever had in my life, his first collapse, his body gone cold in my arms, and that race to the emergency room trying to keep him awake, my world flashing before my eyes.
Over the next 4 months, Beau went through all kinds of tests.. multiple electrocardiograms, echo-cardiogram, an MRI on his brain.. he was a calm, sweet champ through them all and I'm happy to say he's doing very well. His last appointment was just a couple of weeks ago and we hope our worries are behind us. When your child's life flashes before your eyes, it takes quite a while to become fully at ease again. We spent our summer close to home, enjoying simple things, his wellness never far from my mind.
I'm so thankful that Beau is doing well.
He's enjoying fall immensely and invited me to take a nap in the leaves and sunshine the other day.

As for the puppy, Wookie is doing great. She'll be 6 months old tomorrow. She is indeed a bird dog, already in her puppy months her instincts are sharp and she's doing super in her training. She keeps our senses tuned in, too.. Our ears are sharp to catch when she's tip toeing downstairs in hopes of finding one of the boys' socks to eat. Aside from eating socks (which she has a penchant for), she doesn't chew things, but likes to carry them around proudly, one thing to the next. She grabs a shoe, brings it to a bedroom, grabs pajamas from said bedroom, carries them to the living room, grabs a dish towel that's hanging in the kitchen, takes another shoe to the front yard, and so on. Wookie is kind of like having half a dozen toddlers in the house. Our current conundrum is the case of Mitch's Missing Hat. He set it on a kitchen stool so I could give him a haircut on the back deck Sunday, and it hasn't been seen since.

Could this cute face be the culprit?


A big change in the hours of my days is that we are doing 3rd and 7th grade education in our home this year. This is a huge new endeavor for me, one I don't take lightly, demanding of me in new ways. There have been days when I wanted to give up and throw in the towel. (Day 2, for instance.) But beginning with week 4, we'd found our stride and something amazing began to happen. Not only are we accomplishing our objectives, we are reaping rewards that go above and beyond what I'd hoped. We are being challenged, particularly Johnathan and I. But the silver lining is showing itself.
There are days it may look like I've gotten nothing done, yet I feel at the end of the day like I'm accomplishing more than ever. Truly, amazing things are happening.   Today begins a five day weekend, a welcome break that I feel we've earned!

I've spent many evening and weekend hours over the past month shooting senior photos of kids other than my own. The 1 a.m. nights of editing have begun, and I hope to be caught up and complete soon. I've decided that next year I'm taking the fall off!

Yes, during these years raising children, preteens, and teens, I've often found myself marveling at the fullness of life and hearing John Burroughs in my mind.. "I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."

I'm gaining understanding that the days will always be too short, as long as there are so many things to love. The more places I go, the more I want to go. The more books I read, the more I want to read. There is always someone I wish to catch up with. So many more photos I'd like to take. More things I'd like to learn about and share about. (I've never had as many posts left in draft mode as I have this year!) I'll always wish to have a few more minutes in a day with my family.

Thank you friends, if you're taking time to read this. I'm thankful for the inspiration I find when I visit each of you. I hope to visit more often now as the leaves have fallen, school is in stride, and life, doing what it does best, goes on!

Peace, Love, and Sock Eating Puppies,

A Weekend to Remember

2015-09-05T21:52:00.001-05:00

September is here, green is turning gold, and school starts Tuesday. I had written about a wonderful weekend back in June, intending to preserve the memory of it while fresh. I never finished the post, but returning to it now, it did the job. I'm reminded of some of the best moments of our summer:

Previously titled, Why this Weekend was Wonderful...

It doesn't hurt at all that the weekend was kicked off by a great Friday.
Friday morning I headed out the door bright and early for an estate sale with my mom. I bought a butter dish, and not just any butter dish, but a real dandy of a butter dish. Then I spent the late afternoon to early evening mowing our neighbor Marianne's lawn. I love to mow, and mowing for Marianne is special. (Plus, her lawn mower has a really comfy seat!) When I was back in my own yard, giving my hostas an evening watering, a friend drove up and asked to take Lilly and Beau to the outdoor big screen showing of The Wizard of Oz in town after dusk. So Johnathan and I went on a date. It's an uncommon treat to have one-on-one time with our twelve-year -old. It was a great Friday.

Saturday the kids talked me into jumping on their trampoline, new to us this summer.
I had so. much. fun.

And then Lilly, Beau and I, laying on the trampoline in the afternoon sun, eating freezies, stared up at the clouds rolling by, forming and disappearing against the blue sky. I listened to them pick out shapes and objects. "I see a whale." "I see a dragon with wings." I saw a few things too, but they saw so much more. And for some reason, the mosquitoes did not find us inside the protection of the safety net around the trampoline. It was relaxed perfection. Something so simple to hold vivid in my memory.

We found our wild roses blooming. Daisies popping up on
the scene. Wild purple irises along our driveway.

We found strawberries ripe in our patch.
The start of strawberry season is a celebration of its own.

And there were fireflies.

Sunday was the really perfect day. We were all seven home all day.
I mowed. I find great joy in our private domain in summertime, especially when everything is freshly trimmed and beautiful. Everyone in the family pitched in on various projects.
I admired the simplicity of the bunchberry that grow where our backyard meets the woods. As a friend pointed out from across continents, they are "charmingly symmetric." Perhaps why I'm so keen on them.

Mason found a baby turtle in the pond.
Few things delight me more than the intricate perfection of baby turtles.

More fresh strawberries were devoured.
Peonies were admired on the cusp of bursting into full bloom.

I bounced on the trampoline with the kids some more. We laughed. A lot.
We took wiffle ball batting practice. Some of us barefoot.
Basketball shots were made by father and son. A baseball was tossed back and forth between brothers.

My mom stopped by just as we were getting ready to sit down for dinner prepared together.
And then, as we were winding down at the end of the day, rainbows filled the sky at sunset. Maybe the brightest rainbow I've ever seen. I chased it all around and it stayed and stayed til the sun went down.

When I was going to bed, Mitch said to me, "You were like a little kid today, jumping on the trampoline and playing wiffle ball."

Here's to days spent playing like a kid.
To slow living. Home cooked meals. Watching flowers bloom. Picking berries.
Listening to birds and watching clouds roll by. The faces of children. The textures of life. Absorbing details in full attention. And chasing rainbows.

Peace, Love, and Weekends to Remember,

Three Weeks with Wookie | Positive Experiences

2015-08-20T17:20:00.003-05:00

One of the most valuable lessons you can teach your puppy is that the world is a safe place, with kind humans and friendly dogs and other animals. - See more at: http://www.nylabone.com/dog-101/training-behaviors/socializing-your-puppy/#sthash.LMUr3pfi.dpuf

It's been three and a half weeks since we chose Wookie from her pup family and brought her home to be a part of ours. It feels like she's been around much longer already, life these past few weeks has been full! We've had fun with her as our sidekick on summer adventures. We're enjoying introducing her to the world.

She has dipped her webbed toes into eight different lakes. The largest lake in the world, the third largest lake in Minnesota, and a variety of local lakes where she's gotten comfortable swimming and fetching. She's also getting acquainted with our pond.

She has walked on small docks and huge piers. Acquired her sea legs in the boat, and attempted a ride in the kayak with me. She's also ridden on a four wheeler, in the car and truck, and on Mitch's lap in his skid steer.
She explores daily all over our woods and trails, where she's gotten her nose on plenty of wild animal scents, and flushed her first grouse!
She's gone exploring on a leash in a variety of public settings, too.
She's climbed hundreds of stairs, scaled rocks like a little mountain goat, and built sand castles by the shore.

We've been to the vet twice, where she was examined, adored, and got her boosters to keep her healthy. And we've visited the homes of friends and family where she's met a variety of other people, kids, other dogs, and her first cat.

I note these things because it's fascinating to learn how important they are for Wookie's socialization and success in life as an adult dog. Socialization (a good article here) has been at the top of all puppy info we've received from our vet and the articles we've read on training. The general consensus from animal experts is that the very most important thing we can do for Wookie is introduce her to as much of the world as we can in a positive way.

The most critical window for puppy learning is from birth to 16 weeks of age, and is considered to be closing by around 4 months. Since we didn't get Wookie til she was 3 months old, we're grateful for the positive experiences her breeder family gave her, and we've been socializing diligently from the time we got her home. These have been very important weeks with Wookie!
It's recommended puppies encounter as many different people, places, surfaces, sights, sounds, smells and situations as possible during this stage. The more people and places your puppy/dog experiences, the more well-adjusted she’ll be as an adult.

It's been neat to watch how she was a little unsure the first time she got in a boat, but the following week she stepped right in confidently on her own.
The first time she met my parents' dog, Angus, she cried with fright, the only thing she's shown real fear of. (Angus looks like a big black bear and surprised her, coming out the door.) But now that they've become acquainted positively, she begs him to play and he's the one who's unsure!

There are social checklists to introduce your pup to and environmental checklists to familiarize your pup with. This exposure to many different kinds of environments is referred to as "stress immunization" so that these things aren't intimidating or frightening when encountered later in life.
We're making sure that as a puppy, Wookie is exposed to anything and everything that might be a part of our (her) life to come, so that she is a calm, happy dog who is easy and enjoyable to be around. (It's paying off.. she is growing rapidly and such a laid back, well mannered pup!)

All this information on puppy socialization has me thinking a lot about our human kids, too.
We want their world to be filled with as many positive experiences as possible, as well.
I often hope for young people to know that the world is so much bigger than this little area we live, and that they'll not fear in going out there and experiencing it.
Learning how important it is for Wookie to have as many good experiences as possible for her success as an adult dog, I can't help but think of a couple of young men in our home, embarking on their senior year of high school and the big world beyond. There have been times when we've urged them out of their comfort zone as kids (i.e. there was a time when they were stubborn about not wanting to fly or travel.) I hope that these, and other positive experiences we've given them as they've grown, help them to go forth and take on new endeavors and opportunities without fear.

Another school year is approaching for all of our kids, and there has been lots on my mind by way of the experiences they're having. It is stressed that as essential as positive experiences are for pups, negative experiences are not good. I think this goes for puppies and kids alike. It's so important to me that theirs' are positive experiences, that their world is a safe place, with kind humans in it. That's a topic to expand on another day, though.

A few photos from our past few weeks with Wookie!

Sandcastles.

socialize diligently from the minute you get your puppy home. - See more at: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/pets/dog-behavior/how-to-socialize-your-puppy#sthash.CrPyOSDC.dpu

Learning her ladylike manners.

She wasn't sure about those waves at the big lake. They were bigger than her!

Calm water at a small trout lake was the perfect place for a puppy to wade out and take her first swim.

Her first water retrieval.. fetching some birch bark.

First truck ride to Granny & Grampa's house.

The most laid back car traveler ever. Snoring while out on a day of adventure.
Wookie loves to hop in the car and see where it takes us.

First time on a floating dock, testing the water..

Wookie at Palisade Head.

Rock climbing on the Superior shore.

First boat ride.

After going for a swim, she curled up like a baby and slept through a warm evening of fishing.

Dewey morning tracks and a big sunrise shadow.

She sells seashells by the shore. Or eats them, rather.
Wookie wants to taste everything, including the snails that cover this beach.
Those are her kids out there in the water.

She is such a character!

And this is an awkward picture I tried to take with my phone late one night, but my favorite thing of all.
At the end of a busy day, Wookie was sleeping soundly nearby when she got up, stretched, and climbed up on my lap, half asleep. She only made it half way at first, bottom legs hanging off the chair. And then she climbed up higher with her little heart beating on mine, her puppy nose just under my chin, and she slept.

She loves us.

Peace, Love, and Positive Experiences for Everyone,

A critical time for your puppy’s learning is from birth to 16 weeks of age. - See more at: http://www.nylabone.com/dog-101/training-behaviors/socializing-your-puppy/#sthash.LMUr3pfi.dpuf

socialize diligently from the minute you get your puppy home. - See more at: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/pets/dog-behavior/how-to-socialize-your-puppy#sthash.CrPyOSDC.dpuf

National Lighthouse Day

2015-08-07T16:20:00.000-05:00

There are some things I just love the heck out of. Like waterfalls and wildflowers.
Of the man-made type of things I love the heck out of, lighthouses are near the top.

Today, August 7, is National Lighthouse Day. It was on this day in 1789, that Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouse, beacons, buoys and public piers.
The designation of National Lighthouse Day honors the beacon of light that, for hundreds of years, symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea.
At one time, the beacon of light could be found across almost all of America’s shorelines.

We have significant maritime history and some great lighthouses right here in Minnesota.
Yesterday took us to one of my favorite areas, the north shore of Lake Superior, the most unpredictable, deepest, and coldest of the Great Lakes.
First stop: Two Harbors, MN. We walked out to the Breakwater Light.
It was windy out there!

This area is also the site of the Two Harbors Lighthouse, oldest operating lighthouse in Minnesota, overlooking Lake Superior's Agate Bay. The Keeper's Quarters of the lighthouse now operates as a bed and breakfast.

Of course, some 120 years after completion, the lighthouse doesn't just overlook Agate Bay, but a large parking lot as well. Parking lots and vehicles aren't my photo forte, so I had to get crafty with composition.

Later evening brought rain clouds and Minnesota's favorite.. Split Rock Lighthouse.
Split Rock Lighthouse was built in response to the great loss of ships during a 1905 storm in which roughly 30 ships were lost on Lake Superior.
Built on a 130-foot sheer cliff, the octagonal building is a steel-framed brick structure on a concrete foundation set into the rock of the cliff.
The light was first lit on July 31, 1910.

While we had raindrops and I eventually got soaked, we also had the place almost entirely to ourselves!

The fog horns:

At the time of its construction, there were no roads to the area. All building materials and supplies arrived by water and were lifted to the top of the cliff by crane.
A tramway replaced the hoist and derrick in 1916, an inclined rail system that ran uphill, pulling a cart up the tracks by cable. A highway eventually eliminated the tram. Its concrete remnants remain next to a great set of stairs. (I didn't count.. but read that there are 174 of them.)

Bummer for me when I reached the bottom (the best view of this iconic lighthouse from land), the pensive skies decided to open up and pour on me.. I got soaked! Then again, the last time we were there was in good weather, but swarms of people. You get what you get.

We've been trying to include as many small adventures into our summer as possible.
This was a good one, starting and ending with lighthouses. (I'll fill in the middle later.)
Wookie enjoyed her first trip to Lake Superior, too. :)

Peace, Love, and Lighthouses,

PS: Yaquina Head was one of my favorite lighthouses on the Oregon Coast.
And I fell in love with this little Lighthouse for Sale in Michigan a couple of years ago.
Where is your favorite lighthouse?

Sharing with Through My Lens

Meet Wookie, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

2015-08-04T16:16:00.000-05:00

Our trip to the SE part of our state (we were in your neighborhood, Troutbirder!) to see about a puppy was a success.
Our family has grown by four feet.

Introducing Fräulein Wookie Amelia

Our Wookie girl is a three month old Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
She looks so big in photos, but in real life she's all wiggly little pup with long legs, furry face, and a body that wags with her tail. She's incredibly sweet and smart, with puppy antics to melt our hearts.

Coming home:

She loves to play hard and snooze hard.
Beach beard at the big lake:

Wookie is a bird dog. (Griffs are skilled, supreme bird dogs both on land and water.)
It's neat to watch her instincts already. Her nose and ears are often to the ground as she follows a winding scent trail. Her point is adorable and she retrieved from the water for us on first try.
I love her webbed toes!

Most important though, she's a family dog. A week and change since joining our family, the bond is mutual.

We adore her, and it's a wonderful, special thing.. to feel that she loves us back.

Peace, Love, and a Pup at my Feet Again,

Manitou Falls | Pattison State Park, WI

2015-04-08T01:16:00.002-05:00

We crossed the bridge to Wisconsin last week and headed for Pattison State Park, located nearby in the northwest corner of the state.
The park, at a glance, looks very... park-like. There are large groomed grounds for picnics and playing, and some good old CCC buildings for gatherings, all near a small man made lake (which is a strange concept coming from northern MN.) The campground looks nice. But what drew us were the waterfalls beyond the recreation area.
Pattison State Park features the highest waterfall in Wisconsin. At 165 feet high, Big Manitou Falls is roughly the same height as Niagra Falls (but a great deal skinnier!) and is claimed to be the 4th highest waterfall in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains.
The Native Americans who originally settled in the area around the falls believed they heard the voice of the Great Spirit within the roaring of the falls and gave it the name "Gitchee Manitou."

The kids and I stopped here with family last fall, but it was a hurried visit, and we missed the smaller falls. This was a great day to return for a closer look. With spring thaw there was plenty of rushing water while still some nice ice formations.

Approaching Big Manitou Falls..

Nearing the drop off, a long way down!

(Photo above taken last Fall. Spring 2015 below.)

Viewing of Big Manitou Falls is limited from lookouts on the wooded rim. There is no access to the gorge, and climbing in it is prohibited. These limited vantage points make for deceiving photos taken at a downward angle. It looks so much larger in life!
At the bottom of the falls, the Black River quickly disappears, hidden by treetops in the rugged gorge, flowing on toward Lake Superior. It would be amazing to look down and see the depth of the gorge and the river winding along, but I appreciate that it's been left wild and full of trees.
(Photo of the gorge and horizon also taken during our Fall visit.)

We had a pretty good view from the other side of the gorge.
Notice the ice arch over the falls, really cool!

Headed upstream to Little Manitou Falls, which did not disappoint!
Little Manitou Falls drops just 31 feet, but makes up for height in width and open views. The falls form a bit of a punchbowl before the river moves on. I'm guessing that in summer months when the water is low, one might be able to climb around in this open area.
We walked downstream along the river. Spring runoff had created huge frozen veils of ice coming down the sides of the ravine.

Back to Little Manitou Falls, I climbed down a steep wooded hill for a better photo opp.
If you've been around for any of my other waterfall adventures, you'll notice I never think to bring a tripod along, but prefer a longer exposure for moving water.. so I have to make do.
All of these photos were taken with my camera wedged on a stump or rock. They aren't great, but I'm always pleased that they're better than I expect, given the circumstances. Holding still is hard!
I found a place to sit between trees and watched and listened for a while.

"If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water." — Loren Eiseley

I took some short video clips to capture the movement and sound.
I don't usually do video, I hope it works!

A little history:
Martin Pattison was a lumberjack and miner who began logging the Black River in 1879. He eventually sold his lumber interests, but in 1917, he heard about a plan to build a hydroelectric dam on the river which would've destroyed the waterfall. To block the development, he secretly purchased 660 acres along the river, saving Big Manitou Falls. In 1918 he donated this land for public use, saving the waterfall and surrounding forest.

"In being able to grant this site to the public, I have accomplished one of my chief ambitions. For years I have spent much time amid the surrounding of the falls and have received so much enjoyment there that it gradually became a part of my life."

Our thanks to Mr. Pattison. We had a great day here!

Peace, Love, and the Voice of Gitchee Manitou,

Sharing with Our World Tuesday

Spring Finds

2015-04-05T02:08:00.003-05:00

Mitch and I found ourselves crossing the bridge to northern Wisconsin Monday.
We enjoyed a visit to Big Manitou Falls (Wisconsin's highest at 165 ft) and Little Manitou Falls in Pattison State Park. It was quiet there, we saw just 3 or 4 other people from a distance.
Ice on the river was breaking up and we found water rushing nicely.
Finding time to explore together is one of my favorite things.

I found this stump in the shape of the letter "C."
It had me thinking of all I have to Celebrate this week. It's been good.

I also found this small nest on the ground, reminding me that Spring is time for building new.
Birds do it year after year. We can, too, if we choose to.

To our surprise, we found a chicken on our front porch this week.
This is Matilda, the first chicken to perch on our porch or park herself on our doorstep. (And she doesn't budge for visitors who wish to enter.)

This afternoon I found an onion in the garden, left from last year.
It's amazing to me that it wasn't withered from the deep freeze of winter.
Just a little peel of its outer layer and it was all bright, shiny & beautiful.

Tomorrow morning our kids will find Easter Eggs hiding all about.
However you celebrate Easter, I hope it finds you well!

Sharing with Friday Finds

Backward Glances and Spring in My Step

2015-03-27T11:46:00.000-05:00

I found the photo above at random on my phone- taken by accident with the front facing camera feature when instead I was aiming the other way at the kids in kayaks on the pond. (Our pond had opened up a couple of weeks ago. It's once again frozen over.)
When I saw this image, I liked it so much I kept it. A beautiful blooper.
Fitting for the quote, because it is indeed a backward glance over my shoulder!
True words, applicable to Northern Minnesota, especially in March and April.

Random Five:

1. Last week was a hard week, explaining my absence for a while. I attended funeral services for a friend and visited our dearest neighbor in the hospital the same day.
The loss of a friend brought on a great deal of thought, which I hope to share more about soon. Thank goodness our friend and neighbor Marianne is on the mend. We care a great deal for her. She had me worried!

2. If you haven't had fresh parsnips dug up from the frozen Minnesota ground in March, you don't know what you're missing. Marianne's sons come visiting the homestead each March for their birthdays (one of them turned 70 this year) and take to the garden with a pry bar. They shared a few of their prized parsnips with us. DELICIOUS. I'll be giving parsnip seeds a go this gardening season.

3. Late Saturday afternoon after a quiet day of recuperating, my phone rang with a surprise invitation to go hiking with Marianne's visiting daughter. We agreed to meet in the field at 4 o' clock and enjoyed three hours of cold fresh air, hiking through the woods together. My phone said we put on 7.1 miles. I'm not sure if that's accurate, but it was invigorating.

4. My hiking visit, as well as a few long chats with friends came at wonderful times last week. Often solitary by nature and largely family oriented, I'm thankful for connected conversations and friends I can pick up with wherever we left off, as if a few months is no different than a few moments. Isn't is wonderful to be understood?

5. I had the snow tires swapped off of my car yesterday for regular tires once again.. optimistic that I won't need them anymore this year. :)

It's still quite cold here, but I'm feeling a whole lot of Spring in my step.
Peace, Love, and PARSNIPS,
(Try them!)

Sharing with Skywatch

Three Books

2015-03-16T12:16:00.001-05:00

One of my Goals for 2015 is to choose and read one book each calendar month.
Last year I set out to read fifty books, roughly one a week, reading anything I could get my hands on. (see my Year in Books here) So one book a month is a practice in restraint. My aim is a "less is more approach" ..keeping my reading time in balance with time for the other things I love. This goal has been great for keeping me in check in that respect, and has had me giving more consideration to my selections, prioritizing my reading list.

My first three books of 2015 took me all around the world and back home again.

[January]

And The Mountains Echoed, Kahled Hosseini

I was eager to read And the Mountains Echoed after being swept away by A Thousand Splendid Suns and also reading The Kite Runner last year.
*Tough Love Alert* This was my least favorite of the three. I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns. It takes a special kind of book for me to keep on my shelf, or to pass on to friends.. I have two copies, both of them loaned out. It's worth noting that the bar was set high for comparing work by the same author.
And the Mountains Echoed is written in a different structure than Hosseini's prior two books, each chapter told from the viewpoint of a new character. Starting in a small Afghan village, I found the initial story compelling, but it was soon placed on the back burner to accommodate added characters and story lines. It took me some effort in keeping track of how they were all connected, in part because they span multiple generations and jump multiple continents, but some of them seemed altogether unnecessary and too far removed. I just wanted to get back to that first story already.
The ripple (or echo) effect of a single event is the main theme. I get it, but it didn't resonate harmoniously for me. I love Hosseini's writing, but not this book.
And The Mountains Echoed falls short of my Pass on to a Friend caliber.

[February]

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, Laura Hillenbrand

After hearing numerous mentions of this book, I went seeking it at our local library and found that it was checked out all across our regional library system, I was #17 in queue.
When my copy arrived, I jumped into it. But not before Mitch grabbed it and read it first.
Unbroken is a non-fiction / biography of World War II hero Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic track star who survived a plane crash in the Pacific theater, spent 47 days drifting on a raft, and then survived more than two and a half years as a prisoner of war in three brutal Japanese prisoner-of-war camps.
Brutal is the word that sticks. This is an intensely brutal, but incredible account.. as the subtitle suggests, Zamperini survives his ordeals, and with resilience.
From this book I learned more about the Pacific / Japanese side of WWII (where my mom's dad served), about the B-24 bomber, and unfortunately, about several U.S. military inadequacies at that time. I felt the author did a tremendous job with her research.
While Louie's story is unforgettable, my favorite character is Phil (Lt. Russell Allen Phillips), for his moral steadfastness through it all. Phil is my kind of hero.
“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Unbroken stretched my mind.

[March]

The Shoemaker's Wife, Adriana Trigiani

I read several Trigiani books last year, and was told that The Shoemakers Wife is her best yet. Historical fiction, rich in culture and setting, it was right up my alley.
I felt it was a well-told, whole picture of the early 1900's European-American immigrant. Their roots, their journey, making their way in a new and strange place, the sense of gratitude and debt these immigrants felt to their new country, and the longing for the home and people they left behind.
In some ways, the story paralleled that of my great grandfather from Finland. He came to the U.S. on a ship alone at 15 years old, as Ciro does in the pages of this book, and at nearly the same year. They both made a life in America by way of work ethic and willingness to learn. Not long after his arrival, my great grandpa was shipped back to Europe to fight in France in WWI, also as Ciro and so many immigrants did.
The most common criticism this book seems to receive is that it's bogged down with too much description. Yes, it's descriptive, and the hardcover I read is 475 pages long. Part of Trigiani's style is in her description of foods and fabrics. But mostly, she describes settings beautifully. She makes me feel the places in her stories. I was surprised to find that this one, originating in the Italian Alps, then New York City, ends up right here in Northern Minnesota, my own native land. And Trigiani got it right, the Minnesota stuff.
My only complaints: There were (what I thought were) some typos and age discrepancies late in the book. They weren't pertinent to the story, I'm just a stickler for editing detail.
I enjoyed reading The Shoemaker's Wife.

There are a handful of books in the running for my April choice, but so far I'm undecided.
What are you reading? Maybe I'll read along!

PS: Today is St. Urho's Day.
Wishing you many reasons to smile.

Our Now | Our Five

2015-03-13T15:53:00.000-05:00

[This Moment] A single photo, capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

After dinner one night this week, I was standing at our kitchen island and had to stop what I was doing, grab my phone with messy hands from nearby, and sneak a picture.
Family. Together. Homework. Siblings. All five kids under one roof, in one room, in one frame.
These moments are precious.

This is our now.

[Random Five]

1. With spring in the air, so is baseball, prom, and the anticipation of so many things. But for now we have a break between sports and it's wonderful. Unhurried evenings and family time are wonderful. The hour of daylight added to the end of the day is wonderful.

2. Mason & Eric and a friend made pies last night to take to school in celebration of upcoming Pi Day. (The jello instant pudding type.) They never pass up a reason to celebrate with food. Our mailbox has been taken over by mail from colleges, addressed to the two of them.

3. Johnathan isn't a kid who necessarily stands out, per se. Yet I received an email this week from one of his teachers telling me how hardworking he is, a joy to have in class, a great child, that I should be proud. This is not the first time I've gotten a message of this sort about Johnathan.
It's nice to hear those kind words. I am proud.

4. Lilly is very keen on illustrating minions lately. Our refrigerator is never dull or lacking art.
As I've said since she was a toddler adding purple polk-a-dots with marker to the white stripes of her bed skirt: The world is her canvas.

5. I joined Beau for an Author and Artist Celebration in the 2nd grade classroom this afternoon. It was super.

He & I are headed to the performing arts theater tonight to see The Adventures of Flat Stanley. He wore his knee high mud boots home from school, luckily we won't need those to go to the theater. I'll encourage him to wiggle that loose tooth on our way there.

Peace, Love, and PS: I spotted the first robin at the edge of our yard yesterday.
Happy Springing!

A Sledding Surprise

2015-03-07T01:58:00.000-06:00

The first week of March came in like a lion for us. 30 degrees below zero by night, windy & bitter cold by day. It's warming up, and lamb-like weather is supposed to be headed our way. We're ready for it.
We had some snow fun in the March 1st sun.
Mitch broke a trail with the snowmobile for the kids and their friends to sled on, and as the first sled came down the hill, furry field mice started surfacing and running across bright white snow. We had apparently disturbed their underworld.
The kids shrieked with glee and did exactly what I would not have done... they chased and caught them!
The chase was entertaining. Mice have the distinct advantage of staying on top of the snow while they scurry... bundled children really have to boogie while breaking through the windblown crust.
After sledding a bit, another mouse would pop up somewhere and they'd go after it.

Peace, Love, and Snowy Creatures Great & Small,

Bear Head Lake State Park & a Birthday Boy

2015-02-27T00:23:00.000-06:00

During a day trip to Ely, MN (which included giant flying pigs made of snow) a couple of weeks ago, we made our way to Bear Head Lake State Park. Voted "America's Favorite Park" in a major poll in 2010, the little-known park, not even among Minnesota's most popular, won in a surprise landslide, capturing 28% of the more than 5.7 million votes. Despite that acclaim, we saw only two other people during our visit to the park February 7th. A cold, bleak, northern Minnesota day.
All was quiet on frozen Bear Head Lake.

Some updates:
Beau turned eight years old!
Similar to when we awaited his arrival eight years ago, our household was hit by a winter virus this year leading up to his birthday. Lilly was down with it several days, followed by a feverish Johnathan.
Still, Beau's birthday has been surrounded by all kinds of love and special fun.
At 8 years old, he receives steady compliments on his manners and sweetness. He's incredibly honest, while being incredibly kind. He's fun loving and funny. (I shared some of my favorite photos of Beau here.) He brings us so much joy!

Our long winter of traveling across the north half of our state for basketball games came to a close Monday with another 220 mile evening. I was able to attend all 26 games of Mason & Eric's 11th grade season. It feels very strange to suddenly have no basketball schedule filling our weeknights.

Days are growing brighter.. We can still see daylight holding on at 6 pm!
Our dark and dreary winter has shifted throughout February to more blue and sunny skies. But it's still been mighty cold, dipping down to thirty below this past week with more bitter wind chills.

I made travel arrangements for an adventure someplace warmer, prompting me to do a little happy dance the other day. A ways off yet, but it warms me to look forward to it.

From the Land of 10,000 Frozen Lakes,

International Snow Sculpting Symposium

2015-02-09T15:35:00.003-06:00

We enjoyed a northern Minnesota Out and About this weekend.
Our boys had a rare Saturday basketball game up the road in Ely, MN, so we left early and made a day of it.
We spend much of our long winter traveling all over the northern half of the state for basketball games, but all on weeknights after dark.
It was nice to spend the day stopping to enjoy the scenery.

Ely is best known as a popular entry point for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the International Wolf Center, and the North American Bear Center.
We spent our honeymoon in Ely!
When we arrived into town, we happened upon the International Snow Sculpting Symposium.
We enjoyed a very cold walk in the park checking out the action as the sculptors worked.

This big hand was one of my favorites, there was a Musk Ox charging out of the palm.

Artists start with a giant compressed block of snow and use only non-motorized tools to work their magic. They were busy shoveling, sawing, sweeping, and carving.

This sculpture was half elephant, half octopus. (The creators were working on its curling tentacles.)

There was an actual Octopus in the works, too:

The flying pig (with little pig looking up to it) was complete.. another favorite!

The young man below had his ski goggles on. Smart. It was COLD! The artists work from morning til night. My eyes were streaming with tears from the bitter cold air as we watched them.

A minion in the smaller amateur division:

The eyes of the creature from the Never Ending Story are made of ice candles.
After dark the sculptures can be viewed by ice candle light.

A great (though cold) day to stop and see the snow sculptures.

Peace, Love, and Winter Fun,

Sharing with Our World Tuesday

Small Acts that Make a Big Difference : Give Blood

2015-02-06T23:25:00.001-06:00

One of my Goals and Intentions for 2015 is to seek out small acts that make a difference. I mentioned that I'm not a person who likes to be "involved" publicly a whole lot. If there are meetings involved, you can likely count me out. But even people like myself can make a big difference in small ways. I resolved to be on the lookout and update as I discover them.
I have found a valuable one.

In January I donated blood for the first time.
I've often thought I should donate, but always missed the boat. I was never aware of when, where, or how to do it. Then, my friend Kate stepped up and organized a local American Red Cross blood drive, posting the event on facebook. (One of the pros of social media is that it gives you the ability to reach many people! I had never been contacted or notified of a blood drive before in my life.) I eagerly jumped on board.
I'm so thankful for Kate's time and energy in doing this, and thankful that her efforts reached at least one new donor for life. (me)

Blood that is required to assist surgical and cancer patients, accident, burn and trauma victims, even prematurely born babies, cannot be created. It only is available through voluntary blood donation. - See more at: http://www.hesperiastar.com/article/20150203/News/150209948#sthash.ZtThG8oR.dpuf

Why have I often thought I should donate blood?
Both of my parents have. My mom is a regular donor, and I knew as I was growing up that my dad had been an important match for his teenage brother with Leukemia before I was born.
During my first pregnancy I learned that my blood type is B- which is a rarer blood type. Knowing that, I've often thought maybe I should donate.

I've only just now learned how needed it is. I have the second rarest blood type, and the 2nd hardest to keep supplied, with only a 9% chance of finding a compatible donor. (I learned one of my sisters is B- also. Very good to know. She also donates!)

Once I began seeking information, I kept reading things like:
"As a B negative blood donor, you are unique due to the rarity of your blood. Because your blood is rare, it is important to maintain sufficient supplies for our community and local patients. In fact, only 1.5% of the population has B negative blood. Your regular and frequent blood donations are especially valued." And: "Because your blood group is B Rhd negative, you are immensely important to our lifesaving work."

Immensely important. Lifesaving. Valued.
By doing something so simple, I can make a big difference!

I also read that the most powerful part of my blood is found in the red blood cells. To maximize lifesaving power, all B- donors are strongly encouraged to donate double red cells.
So, knowing little at the time, but eager to give a lot, I asked on the spot if I could do a double red cell donation.

Double red cell donors must meet blood volume and type requirements, as well as blood iron levels; they must have a slightly higher red cell count.
My hemoglobin was at a stellar level and I met requirements. I was a prime candidate for double red cell donation.

It was a breeze! The staff was fantastic. They told me I was really smiley.
Double red cell donations take approximately 30 minutes longer than a whole blood donation, so I kicked back and relaxed. I did get chilly toward the end. The machine separates and collects two units of red cells and then safely returns the remaining blood components, along with some saline, back through the same arm. The fluid returned to your body is room temperature, which can cool you down a bit. But this is northern MN where a little chill is no big deal. I felt perfectly well other than that. I felt awesome!

I only wish I'd started donating years sooner. But I'm educated on the need now, and I'm committed to donating regularly from here on out.

Some facts:
♥ Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
♥ Although an estimated 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, less than 10% actually do each year.

♥ A single blood donation can help save up to three lives.

The need is constant.

While the holidays typically bring a slowdown to blood donations, this winter's flu outbreak and weather around the country have had a severe impact on blood supplies.
There is currently an urgent need for all blood types. Many areas are are running dangerously low.

To learn how you can give, visit the American Red Cross.
"Donating blood is the one true volunteer act that saves lives."

Peace, Love, and Life!

Winter : Seeking Inspiration on an Ordinary Day

2015-02-04T10:48:00.001-06:00

This winter in our part of northern Minnesota has been rather uninspiring. In recent weeks I've found myself thinking that it's been the most drab and boring winter ever. (I'm not normally one for using the word, boring!) It's true though, while we're accustomed to months of monochromatic scenery, we've had weeks and weeks of gloomy dull gray skies between the dominant darkness.
And we're very low on snow. What thin covering there is, is packed hard and icy in most places.
With the harsh winter temps we experience, snow plays an important role. It insulates the ground, the tree roots and vegetation. (Underground water pipes and utility workings too.) It also serves as insulation for animals who burrow down underground or in the snow for winter. Severe winters with little snow cover are hard on Ruffed Grouse, who take advantage of deep snow for shelter from the cold. Typically they will plunge right into the snow to spend the night secure and well insulated.
Snow also offers a perk for us humans enduring the cold temps, by offering recreational options during these frozen winter months. Sledding and snowshoeing are two things usually enjoyed at our house in the winter. The kids have done minimal sledding and have had group sledding activities canceled (snow offers nice cushion for safety when flying down a slippery frozen hill.) Snowshoes are entirely useless on three inches of crunchy ground cover.

Still, I was determined to take my camera out the other day and find something to inspire a photograph or two.

Here's what I found:

A new stack of logs from the woods behind our house, mostly ash, some maple, to replenish the woodshed. Dead or blown down trees provide our warmth for the long winter.
I've loved the pattern of tree rings ever since I was a kid.

Polypores on decaying trees also fascinate me.

The beauty and delicacy of birch bark:

A small dash of color; wild rose hips.

A willow catkin:

And a bright assortment of sleds leaning on our garage, waiting for more snow.

In the past few days we've had the joy of blue skies for a change, and daylight is gaining a little longer. But winter is far from over and boatloads of snow may yet come. Who knows what February, March, and April will bring!

Sharing with Our World Tuesday Songography: Ordinary Day Our Beautiful World

Hayrides, Horseback Riding, and a Very Happy 7 Year Old

2015-01-24T01:51:00.001-06:00

Last weekend we gathered with extended family for our annual holiday (post-holiday) get together.   This gathering has changed over the years and for the past two, my aunt and uncle have hosted it at their farm about an hour and a half from us.
Between my grandma, her kids, us grand kids and our kids (the great grands).. there are 55 or so of us. This year was a smaller group than most years, but a great day!

The kids enjoyed checking out the animals in the barn (what a lucky, well-loved bunch of animals!) and my aunt Julie made Beau's whole new year by letting him ride a horse.
Beau loves horses. He draws them and writes about them almost daily. He was so excited.
Here he is visiting with Mike, the farm dog, while Julie saddled up one of the horses in the barn:

Beau got to ride Nicker, a sweet old girl in her senior years.
Julie showed him how to stop, go, and steer.
She even led them over and through some big snowbanks, showing him that horses have four wheel drive. :)
Mike tagged along, loving it.

The other two horses were very curious about the action outside of the fence.

After a while, Julie got on to show Beau how to trot with the horse. He thought the bouncy ride was pretty funny.

And then he was ready to trot solo. (He's super proud of this.)

It was a great day with family!   Beau says it was one of his best days ever.
I snapped pictures of the notes he wrote before sending off in the mail:

We're thankful for Bruce & Julie hosting again this year.

Peace, Love, and Four Wheel Drive Horses,

Onward & Upward | Ten Goals for 2015

2015-01-21T23:43:00.000-06:00

goal: the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.
resolution: a firm decision to do something. firmness of purpose, intention.
commitment: the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself.
priority: something given specified attention.

As we entered the new year, I spent a good deal of thought on all of the above, and a good deal of time tweaking, fine tuning, and articulating my thoughts into a list.
And then.. IT DISAPPEARED!!! Oofda.
It's important to me to commit my goals to writing. So I will try, try again.
My priorities, commitments, intentions and goals for the 2015:

1. Captain of My Ship : Stay On Course
At the beginning of 2014, I made a conscious decision to be intentional in my influences (Good Vibes.) To say no to unnecessary commitments. Be true to my priorities, in command of my choices, Captain of my time. Trust my inner peace as my navigation guide.
I've seen great benefits from this over the past year. I like where it has led me and will continue along the same path.
This might seem like a vague, non-specific goal, but it's been the most important and influential one I've ever set. It's worth a reminder.

2. Nurture Passions, Cultivate Creativity

I felt my passion for photography slip this past year. In particular, I found I wasn't taking photos as much as usual. Photography has been an extension of myself, really connecting me to my surroundings for many years. Most of my adult life, my camera has gone everywhere I've gone. Acquiring a smartphone in 2014 played a part in my using my camera less. It was easy to leave my bulky camera behind when I had one that fit in my pocket and could send photos anywhere at the touch of a screen. (A computer hard drive failure didn't help much either.)
I aim to refocus on my connection with my camera, which means carrying it with me no matter how cumbersome or less convenient it may sometimes seem.
Additionally, I intend to nurture my creative core as a whole. Do more with it.

3. Explore to our fullest ability.
This goes hand in hand with nurturing creativity and passion. New places and exploring are some of my greatest inspiration. I've been digging into maps over the first weeks of 2015 and look forward to where it will take us.
Goal: Plan more mini-adventures with the kids, as often as possible (flexible goal of once a month.)
And one mini-to-grand married people adventure without the kids. We're past due. Exploring is good for us!

4. Send at least one hand written note a week.
Technology, great in many ways, has affected the amount of snail mail I've sent in recent years. I love sending and receiving personal notes, and I read a couple of books last year that inspired me by way of pen and stamp, as well.
I plan to send at least one hand written note a week in 2015 in hopes to brighten someone's day (including my own.) I'm off to a good start and plan to also include the kids in this goal. Beau has an envelope ready to go today. :)
I was happy to learn a couple of other people I know have included this in their resolutions, too!

5. Read One Book a Month
My 2014 goal was to read fifty books. I read anything I could get my hands on.
This year my goal is to read one (hopefully really good) book from my more selective stacks and recommendations each calendar month. I aim to focus more on quality and balance. (I find that when I read a lot, I don't write as much, and so on.)

6. Be healthier. I'm grateful for good health. But I can be healthier, and I've set some personal goals to do so. A common, cliche kind of resolution, I know.. But I'm a first timer!
Nothing extreme, just good, realistic, healthy goals. I'm experiencing an all new-to-me mindset. It's a good thing.

7. Minimize stuff. Maximize efficiency.

I did very well to curb my vintage / thrifting weakness in 2014. Since my reform, I've found that I have a lot of awesome but unnecessary stuff. As a family of seven, outgrowing things is also a constant in our household.
My goal: Find a good use or place for everything in our home, or BE GONE WITH IT!
Develop an Outbox and use it with gusto.

8. Let it be. Just do it. (Try to be a little less particular.)
This wasn't on my initial list, but stems from reading a post a friend wrote about some of her obsessive compulsive personality quirks. It really made me think!
I often feel the need to change things that aren't "just so."
For example: Dishes put in the dishwasher haphazardly. I rearrange dishes or silverware every day.
I'm willing to bet the dishwasher will still get them clean even when they aren't loaded my particular, systematic way, and I challenge myself to try and let them be.
Now I'm not saying I'm going to drastically change my housekeeping ways. Order and aesthetically pleasing surroundings are part of my personal preferences that make me me, and give me peace. I like my towels folded and stacked a certain way. Parking our shoes neatly keeps us from tripping on them or walking in puddles. But some things, like dirty dishes tucked away in a dishwasher, I could try to let slide. Baby steps. :)
Equally, sometimes this part of my personality, the part that likes things just so, prevents me from getting things done. I somewhat envy the person who can spontaneously hang things on their wall without painstaking -or any- consideration. I have many (this goes along with #7) things to be hung on my walls that aren't.. because of the constraints of my particularity. So I challenge myself to just do it.

9. Do Small Acts that Make a Big Difference
I'm not sure where this goal will take me yet. I am not a person who likes to be "involved" a whole lot. I enjoy solitude, and keeping out of public activity. But even people like me can make a big difference in small ways. I'll be on the lookout and updating as I discover them.
Update: I made a wonderful Small Acts discovery!

10. Embrace Change
2015 is full of possibility. There are areas in our life where change may be good for us. Schools / educational opportunities are some of those possible areas. Life will certainly be changing as we gain another teenager and our oldest will become young adults.
"What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does." - Rubeus Hagrid

I've been working on many of these things and look forward to updating on my progress.
I hope 2015 brings good things for us all!

A Year in Books

2015-01-03T20:15:00.000-06:00

(Photo: Owego, NY May 2013. I loved it there.)

When I was in 4th grade I moved to a new school. 4th grade changed my life in many ways. One of them was my teacher, Mrs. Ferraro.
Mrs. Ferraro is a tiny lady filled with big passion; for children, learning, reading and writing. She's a literacy super hero.
I could go on, but today I'm thinking back to 4th grade because about once a week our class was required to "sell books." We would stand in front of the class, hold up the book we'd read, and "sell it." We'd share what we liked about the book, what it was about, and then ask, "Who wants to buy this book?" Hopefully hands would shoot up, and the seller would pass the book on to another student.
I was a shy kid, bordering on painfully shy in some situations - mostly anything to do with speaking or being in front of a group of people. Selling books was awful for me.
But I loved to read them.
In 4th grade I became a reader and writer. It was a wonderful year.

Some 25+ years later, I love to read (and write) more than ever.
In 2014 I set myself a loose goal of reading fifty books (finishing forty-five.)
I traveled to Germany, Italy, Afghanistan, London, India, Australia, Sweden, France, New York City, the Past, the Future, and all over the countryside in the pages of books.
Books have been wonderful companions and teachers.
I thought I'd briefly share why (or why not) I think you should "buy" (read) these books.
These are just opinions, so feel free to differ. I love a good book discussion.

My year in books looked mostly like this:

*Highlighted are the three books I read that struck me as most remarkable this year.
A guy named Standhal once said, "A good book is an event in my life."
Indeed.

1. *The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Set in WWII Germany and narrated in the most unexpected way, this book astounded me. If you haven't read it, I urge you to. Outstanding.

2. Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe
I was supposed to read Uncle Tom's Cabin in about 9th grade, but never did.
Harriet Beecher Stowe, pushing the envelope on equality and human rights, was quite a lady of her time and for all ages. I'm glad I took the time to read this piece of history.

3. The Clothes They Stood Up In and The Lady in the Van, Allen Bennet
This is a strange little book made of two separate, unrelated, British short-ish stories.
If you happen to come across it like I did, I suggest you enjoy a walk, visit with a neighbor, or read another book instead.

4. Pardonable Lies (Maisie Dobbs #3)

5. Messenger of Truth (Maisie Dobbs #4)

6. An Incomplete Revenge (Maisie Dobbs #5)

7. Among the Mad (Maisie Dobbs #6)

8. The Mapping of Love and Death (Maisie Dobbs #7)

9. A Lesson in Secrets (Maisie Dobbs #8)

10. Elegy for Eddie (Maisie Dobbs #9)

11. Leaving Everything Most Loved (Maisie Dobbs #10) Jacqueline Winspear
I started reading about Maisie Dobbs, Psychologist and Investigator, in 2013. These stories take place in post WWI Europe, spanning several years. I've enjoyed them very much for the setting (primarily all around England), the tea, and history more than for each individual mystery.
I haven't seen the last of Maisie Dobbs. Book #11 is out there waiting for me.

12. Life of Pi, Yann Martel
An interesting, surprising, and perplexing read, involving a boy on a boat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. You have to read it to understand the surprising/perplexing factor.
Life of Pi threw me for a loop.

13. Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
Fahrenheit 451 was always showing up on lists of classic books to read. Published in 1953 (the year my parents were born), the story portrays a futuristic American society in a pretty frightening way. I can't say I enjoyed it, but I can say I've read it now, and I see why it's somewhat iconic. Some (not all, thank goodness) of the futuristic ideas aren't far off from current realities.

14. Hope Was Here, Joan Bauer
A Newbery Honor young adult book about a girl named Hope and her experience moving to a small town. A good book for adolescents. An ok book for people like me who like to read young adult books now & then.

15. The Light Between Oceans, M. L. Stedman
"This is a story about right and wrong and how sometimes they look the same.."
A good read that took me to far away Australian shores and the isolation of lighthouse living. My heart became quite involved when reading this novel.

16. Stealing the Ruby Slippers, Amanda Michelle Moon
The author of Stealing the Ruby Slippers is from our nearby small town. We went to the same school and I enjoy following her creative & writing endeavors. Our nearby larger (but still small) town is birth place of Judy Garland. A pair of ruby slippers she wore while filming The Wizard of Oz were stolen from the local museum in 2005, a true event that inspired this fast paced, gritty crime-fiction story.

17. The Plague of Doves, Louise Erdrich
With a little time gone by, I cannot tell you what this book was about. The story (?) was hard to follow, and there were so many characters I lost track of how they were connected, if they were. A few unpleasant things are what stand out in my memory from reading it. Because I've heard good things about the author, and because of its Ojibwe background, I wanted to love this book. I disliked it.

18. *A Thousand Splendid Suns, Kahled Hosseini
A powerful, painfully beautiful story (I call it a love story, though it doesn't always seem it) that expanded my perspective and knowledge of our world and modern history. Not an area I'd likely be drawn to reading about (Afghanistan), it was my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Ferraro, who's praise "sold" it to me. Horrific at times, yet a book rarely leaves me more satisfied overall with its story telling and conclusion.
If you haven't read it, I urge you to. One of the best books I've read.

19. The Sugar Queen
20. Garden Spells
21. The Girl Who Chased the Moon
22. Lost Lake, Sarah Addison Allen
Each of the four Sarah Addison Allen novels above has some touch of magic or charm in them, applied to a normal (non magic) plot or story. They were easy, lighter reads when I didn't feel like tackling a heavy (literal or figurative) book. For instance, when our dog died this year. Sometimes you just need a book with an easy-to-fall-into story and a magic tree that tosses apples at people to take your mind off things.

23. Drowning Ruth, Christina Schwarz
The opening sentence of this books speaks of a drowning. At the end of the book, the circumstances of the drowning are revealed. I felt there wasn't enough going on in between, leaving the majority of the book unremarkable. When I dislike a book, I feel a little like I failed somehow, or that maybe there was something I missed, so I look to reviews to see what others think. I read a lot of reviews that assured me I was not alone in feeling unimpressed with Drowning Ruth. Of course, some people enjoyed it, too. (It was an Oprah's Book Club pick.)

24. My Name is Mary Sutter, Robin Oliveira
About a young woman's struggle to become a doctor during the Civil War, this work of historical fiction is loaded with historically accurate events, figures, and information.
I learned a great deal about all medical aspects of the Civil War (medical aspects being major aspects of it.  Of the 620,000 soldiers who died during the Civil War, around 400,000 of them died from disease, not from fighting.)
I also learned a great deal about amputation from these pages! (If you don't care for reading about bone saws, this may might not be for you.) I found it very educational.

25. Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, Lorna Landvik
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons made me wish I was part of a book club.

26. Chocolat, Joanne Harris
With a name like Chocolat, I expected it to be sweeter. Instead, I found the plot rather dark & bitter, and the book rather dull. I didn't enjoy it much.

27. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
Oh, that Mr. Toad and his motorcar shenanigans! Beau, 7 years old, & I read this classic together (along with others throughout the year that didn't make the list because I've read them before). Our favorite parts involved Mr. Toad. We laughed and laughed!
Find a young person to read it with, and I hope you laugh like we did.

28. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
Was it as great as I expected? In all honesty, no. I was clearly not a member of the targeted (teen) audience. Did I cry? Yes. Cancer is sad, and particular pages hit close to home.
A story of teenage love, youthful bits of philosophy & wisdom. And sadness.

29. The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
Vivid in imagery and magic, this is a brilliantly unique book. I agree with some claims that the plot grew sluggish, but I was too enchanted by the fantastic spell of the Night Circus to mind.

30. Astrid and Veronika, Linda Olsson
A story of two women of different generations, with painful pasts, who become friends.
I liked that it was set in Scandinavia. But it didn't quite hit the good-enough-for-me-to-recommend-to-others mark.

31. Love Walked In, Marisa de los Santos
If you're looking for a story with an ending that'll make you feel warm & sappy, and don't mind a little language and what-not along the way, this is the Chick Flick in book for you. I enjoyed it.

32. The Kite Runner, Kahled Hosseini
Another very compelling story by Kahled Hosseini. I didn't love The Kite Runner like I did A Thousand Splendid Suns. The content was more difficult for me to process, and even more heartbreaking to me, I think because this one involves the abuse of a child. Still, an unforgettable story and beautiful writing. I just picked up And the Mountains Echoed, which I look forward to reading in 2015.

33. Big Stone Gap, Adriana Trigiani
My first Trigiani book, full of humor and quirky characters. Ave Maria, voice of the story, awkwardly finds love in this small coal mining town, as well as a family in Italy she never knew she had. The first in a series of four books.

34. Big Cherry Holler (Big Stone Gap #2) Adriani Trigiani
This installment begins 8 years after the last left off. Ave Maria's loss of a child sets a more serious tone, and her marriage is in a rough place. This segment of the story left me with some hangups. Those hangups were satisfied by the end of the series. For me, that was part of the lesson I took from these books: Patience. Commitment to things that matter. Don't call it quits during a rough patch. You might miss the best part.

35. Milk Glass Moon (Big Stone Gap #3) Adriana Trigiani
Book 3 of the series focuses more on Ave Maria as a mother, as her daughter is on the verge of growing up. The stories of all the folks from Big Stone Gap continue to weave into the whole.

36. Home to Big Stone Gap (Big Stone Gap #4) Adriana Trigiani
The final Big Stone Gap novel, I was satisfied with the conclusion this book was to the series.
Sometimes it occurred to me while reading that there wasn't much of a plot, more the telling of a life unfolding and the lessons along the way. I didn't find them riveting or thrilling, but each book grows more comfortable, like we (hopefully) do with ourselves, and in our relationships over time.

37. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
I didn't enjoy this book. For starters, it contains murderous flesh-eating creatures, which aren't my thing at all. I had a hard time finishing it, only to find the end is more of a beginning to the next book, which I had in my possession and opted not to read.
However, the peculiar photos are interesting, and the cover and page design are attractive.

38. The Wednesday Letters, Jason F. Wright
This is a story about the letters written by a husband to his wife every Wednesday for 39 years, and what their children learn from those letters after their parents' deaths.
Side note: Ave Maria and Jack Mac (of the Big Stone Gap novels) write to each other once a year in an anniversary book. I like both ideas. Written words can be a treasure.

39. Lucia, Lucia, Adriana Trigiani
Set in 1950's New York City, I thoroughly enjoyed Lucia's story. My favorite Trigiani novel so far.

40. *The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
Jeannette Walls' account of her dysfunctional upbringing.. That this was a true story astounded me at times. She tells the painful and sometimes ugly truth of her family life with grace and even humor. And amazingly, without a hint of resentment toward her parents.. eccentrics who were unconventional at best, while mostly neglectful and irresponsible. There is so much to discuss about this book!
Walls is proof that despite tangled roots, we can make the life we choose for ourselves. A memoir worth reading.

41. Reconstructing Amelia, Kimberly McCreight
This was not a pleasant book for me to read, but as a parent raising kids in the age of social media and cell phones, an eye opening story. More important than reading this book: If you are a parent, raise good people and guide them in our modern world with caution.

42. The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo
Beau and I loved reading this chapter book aloud together over the course of a few evenings before bedtime. The story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread.. Filled with poetic narration of light and dark, and rich vocabulary (like perfidy and chiaroscuro.) We adored the tiny hero Despereaux, and his wonderful, powerful, ridiculous love. A fun tale to read aloud with a child. "I honor you."

43. Rococo, Adriana Trigiani
My sixth Trigiani book of the year, and the first that struggled to hold my interest. (Also the first narrated by a male main character.)
I'm not deterred though.. I look forward to reading her next book in my stack.

44. One Million Lovely Letters, Jodi Ann Bickley
One Million Lovely Letters is the author's true story of being struck with a serious brain infection, her struggle to recover, and the idea/movement that came from it: to reach out to others in uplifting, lovely letters.
Reading her story left me inspired to get out my favorite pens and write some lovely notes and letters, myself. I do believe kindness and words make a difference.

45. Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
A classic that I'd never read, I can't say I liked nor loathed Of Mice and Men.
I was left thinking that regardless of my enjoyment of his books, Steinbeck has a way of making me think about tricky things. There isn't always a pleasant line between moral rights and wrongs.
This was a likely candidate from my to-read shelf, since I was nearing the final days of 2014 and had a handful of books to go in order to hit my goal of 50. I thought I might do it if I read thin ones, and this book is very thin!

Once completed, I decided 45 was a good number. I had family and holidays to be present with, tend to, and enjoy. And I have all of 2015 to read more books.

In the coming year, I think I should do this one book at a time.
If you have any books to "sell" I'd love to hear about them!

Our 2014 Family Photo | Behind the Small Miracle

2014-12-30T16:11:00.000-06:00

One day back in late October, after football season ended but before hunting season grew intense or basketball began, a small miracle happened: We got a family photo.
I'm telling this story for safe keeping, in hopes my children some day grow up to understand that small miracles like these were important to me. That it was worth enduring a few occasions throughout their growing years to achieve them.
I cherish our candid photos. But a group shot of us as a family is nice to have every couple years!
I also share because I wonder if I'm not alone in this challenge of getting my family in a photo together, and to enlighten anyone who looks at our photo as idyllic..   Ha!

I prefer shooting in evening light just at sundown. So we got cleaned up and waited for that lovely late day lighting. I think this was a Sunday, so we probably waited for the Vikings to lose their game on the radio.
(Problem #1.. Daylight changes fast in the northern Fall, and the sun as I know it all summer is a little more wily to work with. It drops off fast at a changing angle.. no warm lingering light.. small window of opportunity.)
We all set out beyond our backyard to set up a photo. Problem #2 is that my tripod has been missing an important piece for a few years. Without the missing piece it's not possible to secure or level my camera in vertical/portrait position. So I have to level it by adjusting the legs all wonky (two long legs and one really short one.) And then the camera is heavy, and on non-level ground I struggled to keep it standing upright. It tipped over a time or two.
Problem #3 was that my favorite lens for portraits requires being very far away. I have a remote shutter release just for these kinds of things, but you have to be pretty close for it to work. We were out of range. (I've still never been able to put it to use.) Instead, we had to dash back & forth several yards, pushing the self timer button and hoping to get back in the picture in time. One attempted click of the shutter at a time.
Problem #4 is that we aren't the most naturally photo cooperative bunch. Some of us are awkward in front of the camera. Others are very lacking in enthusiasm for photos. We got several shots of Lilly yawning. Several more of Mason "resting his eyes." And in general, all of us just haphazard.
Problem #5 was that it was chilly and windy. For some reason, my kids don't mind being out in below zero temps if they're playing on a frozen pond or being pulled on a sled. But 35+ degrees while taking a photo is like cruel and unusual punishment. Strong wind also blows the hair of some of us all over, which it did to me in 99% of photos taken.
Problem #6 came sometime after the camera tipped over and we ran back & forth pushing buttons trying to set things up in a rush. The exposure settings were somehow changed, which I didn't realize until well into the ordeal. I had no idea how the change was made or how to change it back. (It took digging out the manual later.) The shots were drastically overexposed, turning out images of nothing but bright white.
Before I knew this, I was snapping away. I had sacrifice the idea of a family shot so I could ditch the timer & tripod, and just take the bull by the horns and photograph the five kids with camera in hands, efficiently. I'm pretty sure those photos would have been great, but they were ALL blown out white.
Exasperated with a camera that wasn't working right for me at this point, I called it a flop and gave up. Light had faded, I was losing what good will from my subjects I may have had, noses were red from cold. I actually called it "The Greatest Flop Ever."
I've kind of grown accustomed to not getting nice family photos of us, so in a way, it wasn't that big of a deal. But in a way, I was more defeated than ever. My family is my life's great work, and taking photos is one of my life's great passions. A nice picture of us now & then is important to me.
Feeling matter of fact that it was a fail, I was in no hurry to go through The Greatest Flop Ever shots. So later, when I did, it was a miracle to find a single photo well focused and nicely exposed, of us all looking mostly normal and composed.
This photo was the one and only that turned out. I don't care at all that half the family isn't smiling.   I know we're all looking at a teetering tripod far away, debating whether the indicator light had already blinked or not. Some shivering cold, others telling them it's not that cold.
This is us. I'll take it. I'll treasure it forever.

Our 2014 Family Selfie:

At the time of this photo, Mason & Eric were 16, Johnathan 11, Lilly 10, Beau 7.
A few weeks later Mason & Eric turned 17 and Johnathan 12.
Time keeps slipping into the future. My kids are growing, changing, and gradually readying themselves for leaving the nest. I'm thankful to have a still frame of us all right now, together in 2014, for our family's timeline.

Here's to self-timers and family photos, past, present, and future!
And to those of you who hire a photographer.. Good call. :)

Blogging Buddies (Back from a Break)

2014-12-24T10:26:00.000-06:00

The night before Thanksgiving, I was thinking about all that I'm grateful for. I read the post I wrote about Thanksgiving last year. Some of the things I listed were:

Our home, warm & strong, that shelters me not just from the cold & snow, but from the busy & sometimes invasive outside world. My own peaceful, private space where I can be.

My family.
I'm grateful that our kids are healthy & happy.
I'm thankful for the security we have due to Mitch's skill & hard work.
I'm thankful for our shared beliefs & values. Beyond everything, we believe in our family. I'm grateful to always know this.

The patch of woods we live on. I've been reading a lot lately of some hard times & hard places, and I am so grateful for abundant firewood to warm us & wildlife to feed us.
Clean northern Minnesota air & water.
All the pretty things the good earth offers for us to see & be a part of.

I'm thankful for interesting books. They are some of my favorite acquaintances.

For the peace & clarity around me as I get older. Making decisions to no longer sacrifice myself & my time for things that aren't important to me.. this is coming easier, and it's wonderful.
I'm thankful for learning.
I'm thankful for crossing paths with & knowing many good people, and the ability to share with & learn from them.

For all the amazing things I've been able to see, do, & experience.
And for all the amazing things I've yet to see, do & experience; I'm thankful that I have them to look forward to.

Thanksgiving came and went, and I've since been focused on the flurry of the holiday season, coinciding with the flurry of basketball season, coinciding with the flurry of family life.
I've taken an unintentional break from blogging.
And I've been thinking of my blogging buddies. I'd like to talk about them.

I've been jotting thoughts, sharing photos, documenting our family life for almost nine years, the better part of a decade. Over the past couple of years, I've come to know some of my fellow bloggers as friends. I think of them like modern day pen pals, some like extended family.
There's DJan; when asked a question such as "who do you really admire?" ..I automatically think of her. There's TexWis girl, talented artist and perhaps the most dependable commenter I've ever had, she has made my day brighter many times. There are two Lindas who I've come to enjoy.. Linda W. and Linda R., both of them adventurers in their own rite. At first I kept them straight by thinking Linda West (Linda W. lives in my favorite place, Oregon) and Linda R.V. (Linda R. travels the country to it's most beautiful places in an RV with her husband.)
My fellow Minnesotans from the lower part of the state, Grandma Barb, and Troutbirder, who lives near my brother-in-law and feels as if he could be one of my own retired history teachers. Make that two Barbs.. Barb in beautiful Breckenridge also. And two Lynn(e)s. Lynne in Michigan, and Lynn from France. Two Karens.. Karen in Australia, mother of 8, I've grown to care about her family from afar. And Karen who lives in Switzerland and France and travels to amazing places. Stewart in Melbourne, gifted writer, deep thinker & earth observer, with a sense of humor. Arija, whom I admire also in Australia.. Nina, kindred spirit from Scandinavia.. LadyFi, in Sweden, who captures the world in photos in ways I hope to glimpse it each day. Ranchwife Robyn in South Dakota, Marcia, Michelle.. and Brandi, fellow mother of five. George and Betsy in Tennessee, their happiness makes me happy.
When I go weeks without finding time to read or write, I think about these friends around the country and the world. I might wonder how their day is going, or their name might come up in conversation with my family.
If you're reading, you've all touched my life in some way.
I'm thankful.
I'm eager to catch up with you all again!

I found these hearts made of snow on our front porch one early December day, left by Lilly.

Peace, Love and as William Woodworth said, “Rest and be thankful.”