The Beretta is at Work

By now, you must have given up on me.  My only possible explanation is simply getting too many things going on at once.  The most difficult has been an on-going battle with ducks on the pond.  Finally, yesterday we shot a couple of shots from my new Beretta 20 gauge shotgun Luke found for me online.  And a round of firecrackers I got from the shop on north highway 25.  The owner told me Harold Lumley used to buy them to get rid of Canadian geese.  It's something that has about 20 shots in a block so one fuse lighting sets of a round.  This caring for a family farm gets complicated sometimes and seems to take an awful lot of concentrated effort when new challenges arise! ……For now, all is calm and I can enjoy my yoga class  at 10 and then packing away the few Christmas items I have displayed. …..Gus went home yesterday when Susan and I met in Commerce. A great time to be at Chico's there for the after-Christmas sale!…..The 70-degree weather has lulled me into the joy of hammock time and I've had three different hour-long sun-baths these past few days.  But, I hear the cold is coming so now we are preparing for what may be power-outages.  Fortunately Frank has some propane heaters and a camp cookstove so we will be safe here even if the power does go out. …..Oh!  The ducks flew away after one shot!  So, we'll see if we can simply discourage them and not injure them.  That's the intention, anyway.

Me and Guns and Ducks

I got up early this morning to enjoy the most beautiful weather we have enjoyed in a very long time.  I know it can't last much longer so I want to get a full day of it today. …..We are battling a crew of four ducks that have been coming almost daily.  About a week ago I discovered they are definitely fish eaters, which I had already figured out by watching them dive repeatedly,….. and we needed to get rid of them.  Well, being who I am, I don't want to kill them, just harass them enough for them to stay away from the teenincey bream - 1,000 of them - which I paid big money for to stock the pond and 20 carp at $9 a piece to keep it clean……...  So far the best I have been able to do is find the grandkids air rifles to shoot at them.  The BB's don't reach them on the other side of the pond, but do seem to disturb them - but not enough to stay away.  They were back this morning, flying away when I walked outside.  The venture did inspire me to clean some of the rust from the guns, which I am doing in the photo……The result of all of this, yesterday Frank and I went gun "looking."  I decided I will satisfy a long-time dream and learn to shoot a gun - specifically skeet shooting with the kids when they visit at Thanksgiving.  My best choice so far is a Franchi 20-guage shotgun that really felt like it fitted.   Hunter's Headquarters in Greenwood is a magical store filled with everything anyone could ever think of related to guns and bows and arrows, etc.  It's a wild experience just visiting the store and the people who work there!  One customer we met drives from Laurens "just to look" as a fun thing to do.  Of course, the store would be a great place for a single woman to pick up a man, too!  Lots of guys just wandering around looking lost.

Christmas 60 Years Ago

This is one of eight ornaments remaining from the dozen I bought the first year of marriage for our Christmas tree in California.  The box indicates they came from Poland.  What a treasure!  For sixty years she has appeared on our trees in California, Oregon, New Mexico, Maryland, Iowa, Alabama, and South Carolina.

Christmas is Coming

I have just today gotten into my Christmas boxes and must share this with you - a nativity scene  created by Mother in her ceramic shop.  I think she borrowed the molds but then created her own sets in her kilns.  Anyway, they have been with me for many years and always bring to me the beauty of this story.  She provided her church, Immanuel Lutheran, with a much larger set which they display each Christmas season.  A lovely ceramic tree is also in my collection of her work, but didn't yet get to that box.  What a joy it is to have such beautiful memories.

Thanksgiving at The Pond

I've been distracted from writing for too long.  I miss it.  So, this morning I'm reclaiming that part of my life.  It's easy today.  Yesterday I spent two hours at Urgent Care, mostly waiting for my turn, to discover my voice box is inflamed - hence the localized pain when coughing.  So, now I'm on a cough syrup containing codeine and prednisone to heal.  How, I don't know, but that's what doctors are for.  The best part is I slept very well -coughing is mostly controlled now.  ……Enough of that.  Thanksgiving was delightful.  With the two houses we have plenty of room for families of both sons.  Once again we ate at one table - all eleven of us (including my man friend, Frank.)  Todd, has left us for South Dakota, so we missed having him with us…..For the first time, Tate saw me do yoga when I led a yoga session for his entire family!  Kelsey and Sydney requested it.…..Fish have been planted in the Pond - 1,000 bream and 20 carp.  Next spring bass will be added.  Four diving ducks, which I have not yet been able to identify, have arrived and appear to be filling their guts with the tiny fish!!!!  Surely they won't eat all of them? …….Somehow Luke's family didn't get into my camera's eye except for Luke at his honored position of carving the two turkeys and the ham he cooked.  One more shot that must be seen is Kelsey shooting skeet - I think her clothing somehow explains that she is multi-talented.  Actually she connected with several of the clays despite her unconventional stance.

The New Toy

Well, we are with it now.  The instruction manuals are lying all around the room.  Cords are connecting  computer and mobile hotspot and router and television somehow.  Perhaps a modem is needed?  I thought this was a "smart TV". How come it needs all these helpers?  We do now know how to use the Guide to scroll through what's available MAYBE.  We actually watched a movie on HBO which is free for three months.  Already I can see we need to pay for recording also.  It's much more fun watching a movie together and just the first night I had to teach a class so Frank tried recording the movie.  Whether or not that worked, we haven't yet discovered.  Still don't know how to find "Person of Interest" so we can watch it.  I believe it's on CBS, but how do we discover when and where it is?  My smart phone helper tells me it's CBS but haven't yet found the time and day?  ……..What a challenge this is but what a joy also.  We watched Steel Magnolias last night long enough to get lots of laughs and remember the story.  Clearly I've got to get out my knitting again.  Ohhhhhh!  I just remembered, I think there is a piece of something covering the screen.  Do we take it off or leave it on? Decisions.   Decisions.  We just added a whole world of new ones to our lives.  But, we also added a whole new area of learning to keep our brains functioning for several months figuring out how to use this new toy.

Breathing out, I smile.

I have finally purchased a television... sooper-dooper 50-inch hifalutin do everything "smart" one.  And the installer is at work this morning.  We'll see how much it will do down here in this low spot now where reception is certainly not the best.  Glad it's a rainy day again so I'm happy to stay inside.  The Pond is still overfull and emptying.  ………... Been reading some more Rumi and beginning to feel comfortable with it.  But, my favorite at the moment is from Thich Nhat Hanh's "Peace is Every Step."  Best lesson for now comes in this exercise to help us breathe consciously:  Breathing in, I calm my body.  Breathing out, I smile.  Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment!.  I'm adopting the first two sentences as a daily practice, if not more often.  This is an especially useful practice for a  "happiness specialist."

Second Rain

Here is the road into the Yogatorium and my home

during the rain on Monday and the same stretch of driveway with a new culvert and two dump truck loads of crusher run following a lot of earth moving yesterday afternoon!  Some of you drove over and through the washed-out portion Monday evening to come to yoga class.  What heroes you are!  Also, a photo of the spillway spilling during the rain on Monday.  The labyrinth is to the right in the background.

Chris Bates - Kindness

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth…….
This morning's reading is a poem "Kindness" by Naomi Shihab Nye.  It speaks to me directly with regard to Chris's passing.  Here is more
….Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing……
Then it is only kindness that makes any sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes………
Only now I realize that I am feeling the loss of Chris as if he were one of my two sons.
I honor Chris for the sorrow and the resulting kindness I am feeling.

Back at the Pond

Just for fun, here's Frank demonstrating how much he truly hates yoga! Click to see his facial expression?

I know everyone is probably tired of seeing fall colors, but I must add this one - a pistachio nut tree my father bought probably 50 years ago and planted up at the big house where they then lived.  Later transplanted some to the house where they lived the last years here, and I now live, beside the Pond.  No, it doesn't bear nuts, but the leaves are always spectacularly red in the fall.

One Week Later

Last night I had a very useful phone conversation with my friend, Faye, who has been a grief counselor for many years.  Her words were very helpful.  I do believe the loss of a child is a terrible hurt that never totally ends.  "Getting over it" is not going to happen.  So, the work is to recognize that, accept it, and live with it.  I am surprised at how deeply I feel Chris's death.  Perhaps if I didn't have sons myself, I could be less affected.  My heart goes out to Justin, Donna, and Steve.  This morning, in that order.  At other times, I change the order, but not the depth.  I will keep sending positive energy to each of you.

Mourning and Praising

Yesterday was a rainy one all day long which fit my mood of mourning.  It was a good one.  A necessary one.  And there will be many more such days.  But today I am returning to doing stuff.  Getting the 4-Runner to the shop for a day of maintenance work.  Yoga class tonight.  Fittingly, no one came to class yesterday morning so my only personal contact all day long was with Frank who was also "heavy-hearted."  We felt sorrow - especially for Steve, Donna and Justin.  I can only imagine how heavy-hearted they are.  My most dreadful fear for the past fifty-one years has been some catastrophic occurrence happening to one of my two sons who are now 49 and 50.  (Tate will be 51 Nov. 18.  Luke is 49 as of October 24. )  I thank God every day for their presence in my life.  

Chris Bates

Just when we think life is settling into something of a routine, LIFE happens.  Mother's companion, Helen, once said to me "Dying is a part of living."  On last Thursday, my niece Donna's son Chris was killed in a bicycle/minivan wreck.  These past few days were beautiful beyond belief.  So many hearts have been bleeding, but together.  It has been a sad time, too, of course.  But there is also a deep connection of all who knew and love Chris that is heartwarming.  I know Chris is glad knowing all of us are celebrating his life and sending our positive energies to accompany his soul's journey.

Two Kinds of Stuff

Read this just now in Reader's Digest and must share with you:
We have a tendency to define ourselves in opposition to stuff…But try to also express your passion for things you love.  Be demonstrative and generous in your praise of those you admire.  Send thank-you cards and give standing ovations.  Be pro-stuff, not just anti-stuff.  Last night's engagement party for John and Gabriela ended with a gift of many potted flowers to be shared.  I, for one, will be grateful every time I look at those I received.  And, remember the delightful celebration of their love for each other.  See Grace Contreras photos on fb.

Final Stages of Moving

Finally getting close to emptying the house at Penrose.   Yesterday was a rainy one so we shifted our work to inside and filled all the boxes we had left.  Today we'll pack up the vehicles and head back to the Pond for a few days again.  It is a remarkable thing, leaving a home of twenty years.  The most difficult part of emptying it is the decision-making process. Frank has been very willing to discard stuff and that makes it easier.   Finally it is getting easy to just pack up everything and get out.  We've already eliminated truck loads of stuff and given it away or sold it and now we're just moving everything - either to the Pond or to a recycling center.  All the furniture except one bed and one recliner is gone.  Now we'll even empty the refrigerator and pantry and make one-night stands when we return instead of several days at a time.

Toys and Mushrooms

Cleaning and Clearing still in Penrose.  Here's the most favored vehicle - a 1993 Jimmy upon which Frank has labored many hours of love - off to the mechanic to get it running and then for sale.  Some of the "getting rid of" is easy, but this one is tough.  Still, it's hard to justify a man with three vehicles, even if one is really a toy  At least it's hard for HIM.. ……Perhaps more interesting is the very unusual mushroom I saw at the Cottage yesterday morning….The yard has many different fungi that I've never noticed before.  Strange how many more noticings  I'm  doing as I live longer.  Trying to learn to spend more time in the NOW, the present moment, and let the past and the present handle themselves.  Somehow they do just fine without my interference.  Today is rainy in NC and I'm due for a nice long day of interspersing reading in the one comfortable chair left here, a recliner.  

Two More Pond Photos

Last evening - the cottage dock almost out of the water - from the edge where there are still remnants of grasses that will soon disappear from the scene.  And still the siphon is at work - sounds like a waterfall!

More on The Pond

Here's a few more photos taken this morning.  The second one shows the siphoned off water exploding into the air on the back side of the dam.  Third one shows the spillway a few hours before the water crept across in one tiny rivulet, but no more.  Now we're at the point where we can begin to see more land all around the pond - still about 6 more inches too full.  Siphon still working like a charm.

The Pond is FULL

The Pond was filled last night.  Now, it is about 8 inches above full pool with the threat of going over the spillway if it rises another few inches.  The drain pipe is working overtime with a huge fountain of water pouring out the back side about the size of four broken water hydrants spouting forth.  Here are a few photos.

Todd Leaves the Pond

An era has ended.  Todd and Aleah are on their way to Spearfish, South Dakota, where he will live - returning to his home state.  Luckily, on their way, they stopped on Sunday morning at Cracker Barrel near Frank's home and we met them for breakfast.  Many of you are well aware that Todd and I have been like brother and sister for several years now and it is definitely a tough happening having him gone.  He was my personal caretaker in so many instances and always the caretaker of the place.  Not only did he build the deck at The Yogatorium, but he fixed everything that broke - many times before it broke!  Perhaps most special, he inspired and accompanied me on my spiritual growth journey and as an energy healer.  Todd will always have a warm place in my heart.

Coming Back to Life

Yes, the Pond has more water.  And, more wildlife.  We have seen the Great Blue Heron, 3 ducks, a few turtles, and even a snake skimming the surface this morning.  And the frogs are giving a concert every evening - sometimes so loud we can't hold a conversation.  These days of long, slow rains are exactly what we need for the Pond.  The grasses in the center of the Pond were left on purpose as fish habitat.  And, I suspect turtle hibernation beneath the grasses while the water was gone.  It is truly fun to sit and watch this beautiful spot rejuvenate itself.

Fall Begins Now

Red Maples at The Pond 2014

When a season changes I'm always reminded of the major reason I live here instead of Albuquerque or some other place in the Southwest, which I dearly love.  It's the four nearly equal seasons.  I have lived in Southern California, Eastern Oregon, Albuquerque, Maryland, Iowa, Alabama and, of course, born and raised here where I now live again.  None of those places can boast four nearly equal seasons, except perhaps Alabama, and maybe Maryland?  What is so preferable about that?  I LOVE CHANGE.  Already my spirits have been lifted in the last week when I pulled out two cotton sweaters and actually wore them for the first time since last spring - and then only rarely.  Now, of course, I am back to tank tops and shorts after ten o'clock in the morning…...  The changing colors in the woods are a gift from God we don't see in some parts of this beautiful country.  (I must confess, this is last fall's red maples - they haven't yet changed this year.)

Jesse Lee - at The Pond

Diana just reminded me that I haven't written in a while.  My Goodness! It's been eleven days!  That just goes to show you how busy and fulfilling my life has been!  Part of the reason is moving from the cottage into the larger house has been occupying all my spare time.  It's truly fun building a new nest, but also time-consuming.  ….Another event - Jesse, Todd's son from Brazil, has been here for a couple weeks now and I've enjoyed getting to spend some time enjoying his visit - particularly the singing and guitar playing -which he did for our spiritual growth meeting on Sunday last.  Jesse has now committed to living the life of an artist - music is his forte.  He calls his music "funky, folky, love music" and I call it "easy listening" and "thought-provoking."  His "Believe" is truly lovely and inspiring.  Oh yes, Jesse writes all his songs!  He is now in the process of preparing his first solo album.    Unfortunately he's leaving Friday so I'll also lose my computer consultant!  But, he promises to return.

Wedding Gift for Guests

But the ark was enough, is enough.  Because the ark is wherever human beings come together as human beings in such a way that the differences  between them stop being barriers--the way if people meet at the wedding, say, of someone they both love, all the differences of age between them, all the real and imagined differences of color, of wealth, of education, no longer divide them but become for each a source of strength and delight, and although they may go right on looking at each other as very odd fish indeed, it becomes an oddness to gladden the heart, and there is no shyness anymore, no awkwardness or fear of each other.  …..Frederick Buechner, in "Secrets in the Dark."  p. 48
Just six days ago I experienced the gift Buechner is describing in his book of sermons so much more beautifully than I could. It seems worth sharing.  Just for fun, I'm including a photo of Kate cutting her brother's birthday cake  at the home of  Jeff's parents the day before her wedding.  You see Jeff''s niece and sister and James with Kate.

Celebrating at the Doran's Home

We are in Islamorada for Kate's wedding to Jeff tomorrow night.  Arrived Friday afternoon about 3:00 and are totally enjoying all of the festivities.  Today was especially exciting as we swam with dolphins! Some photos will be forthcoming later but it was a fantastic experience.  We were kissed by the dolphin, were pulled by two at once while we held onto their dorsal fins, got to get them to turn over so we could rub their bellies, and even more!  What a blast!  Last night we had dinner on the beach - about 20 of us - and tonight another supper at Jeff's parents' home on a canal where folks swam and fished and we ate like kings!  Fish and hamburgers, cole slaw, etc.  Chocolate birthday cake for Kate's brother James and finally key lime pie tarts with mounds of meringue.  What fun it is to be celebrating with two beautiful people and their friends and families.  The energy is so beautiful!!   .

More Talk of Kate and Jeff's Wedding

Tonight we are in Brunswick, GA at a motel.  Had a nice day-long trip today from Islamorada here.  We are both still reviewing and reliving the past three days - sharing time and space with Kate's  and Jeff's family and friends in so many delightful ways.  Eating new foods - like yellow fin snapper and conch fritters and key lime pie, etc. etc.  Like swimming with the dolphins - an experience I'll never ever forget!  And so much more.  Especially the contact and connection with so many beautiful people who are so open, optimistic, and FUN!  The energy these last few days has been indescribably powerful!  What a joy when such deep connections occur.  How wonderful it is to share our lives with other extended family members and be there when the deepest, most meaningful vows of all - the marriage ones - are exchanged.  The sunset over the water was beautiful at the close of the wedding vows.  The night before, the double rainbow was perfect to begin the festivities, the swim in the canal at the home of Jeff's parents - and more.  A weekend to remember, for sure.

Kate and Jeff's Wedding

Well, it's a wonderful experience being here in Islamorada for Kate and Jeff's wedding.  We have had two lovely days sharing space in wonderful ways.  This afternoon there was a quick rain shower but apparently we're clear for the wedding at 7:00 on the beach.  It has been fun renewing acquaintances and making new ones here to celebrate with Kate and Jeff.  Here's a quick shot of Kate on Friday evening at the gathering showing her shingles spots on her leg!  Yep, of all times, shingles!  But, truly not a serious case.  Time to leave for the wedding now.  More later.

Water in the Pond!

No, I haven't fallen off the edge of the Earth.  Just so many things happening that I'm neglecting the most fun thing I do - writing these posts!  Big NEWS! Yesterday and last night we had 3 inches of rain!  So, here's the Pond now, first from the side of the cottage and second from the dam (Note deep grass on the dam).  The labyrinth is in the distance in both photos

New Home

Now in the process of moving over to the Guest House and leaving my cottage.  Here's a photo taken from the pond basin a few weeks ago, before the dock was removed and more earth moved up to the house.  Much fun settling in to  more room and setting up in a different place.  It's hard to believe but I've been in the cottage almost nine years now so it was becoming a bit tiresome.  One thing I do enjoy is change - so a big one now moving stuff back and forth between the two buildings.  Actually, if I keep it simple, it will work much better for two adults than the smaller cottage.  And, Frank and I are spending most of our time together either here or in his house in NC.  Living in the new place will also give us a chance to overcome the mouse brigade that has moved in!  First it was fleas, and now mice.  Living in the country during a drought has presented us with all kinds of new critters moving in - looking in part for water I suspect.  If all else fails, I guess I'll have to get a cat.   Oh well, we won the battle of the fleas so I bet we'll win the battle with the mice!

Sara's Shoes and Beamer in the Pond

See something strange about Sara's shoes?  She packed in a hurry when leaving Wilmington but despite the difficulty, she walked completely around the Pond with me.  What a kick to be able to do that - walk all the way around the Pond.  It is possible now because the renovation created a "bank" all the way around.  Now, if we can just get a lot of rain……Here's Nancy's dog Beamer enjoying the small puddle near the new peninsula at the northwest end of the Pond.  The grassy area in the center is left to create fish habitat.

Butterflies at The Pond

Butterflies here at the Pond too!  This is the same one with underside first and upper side the other one. This one rode around on Frank's finger for a long time while he walked around the yard!

Seeing vs. Looking

This weekend in NC has been a totally relaxing one - very little actual work been done.  Mostly just sitting on the porch and watching butterflies on the butterfly bush.
 None there this morning yet, but as soon as the sun pops over the trees I'll bet they will show up  Yes - I see them in the sunlight on the other side of the yard.  At one point yesterday there were 6 of them  all on the same bush right next to the porch - bright yellow and some brown/black ones I don't recall seeing before.  I am still working on SEEING instead of just looking!

Yoga - And, Clearing and Cleaning

Goodness!  Time does fly.  Here it is already Thursday and my first week back at work is over!  What a great one it was.  FOURTEEN students showed up Monday evening - a record!  And still they came Tuesday morning, Wednesday evening, and again this morning.  I am so humbled by all of this eagerness!  AND, one or two students have come more than once this week!!!  It brings tears to my eyes.  My sincerest thanks to each and every one of you for your love and companionship on this beautiful trip!!!! Here's my latest favorite yoga photo - Granddaughter Sydney in Pigeon Pose at Hilton Head
……..Once again, I'm in NC with Frank watching today as a couple guys are loading up lawn tractors, saws and tables, HUGE removal operation going on!  Fortunately these two men are in the habit of doing this as a sideline job - selling tools -  for a commission, of course, but they even do the cleanup, etc.  What a find!  So, before we know it, we can even clean up the two garages and the woodworking shop…….This is one of the most fun projects I've been in on in a long while.  Cleaning and Clearing is so FREEING!  I'm finding myself doing some of the same stuff at the Pond.  What a trip to see empty shelves!  Why is it we collect?  I can assure you, it's much more fun to de-collect.  It's a joy to imagine someone else actually USING our stuff, much of which hasn't been used in a very long time.  I heartily recommend clearing and cleaning.

Fried Clemson Spineless Okra

Today is a play day.  The photo is of fried okra from my garden.

 Believe it or not, never before in my life have I fried okra but it was irresistible.   It is a super appetizer with a cold beer!  This is actually Clemson spineless okra dipped in egg, then buttermilk- corn meal- flour mix to which I added salt, pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder, and fried in coconut oil.  First of all, I NEVER fry foods.  But, this I will continue.  It did seem a bit strange to taste the coconut flavor, but not offensive.  My family will be most surprised since cooking is truly a new hobby for me.  We lived on easy-to-prepare foods with very little exploring going on except perhaps for a different tomato sauce on the Quaker Oats meatloaf I made almost weekly for fifty years.

Creative Ideas occur in the Silent Periods

Since last write, been home to the Pond and back to Penrose.  The heat at the Pond and the cool in the mountains makes the trip well worthwhile.  But now, back to the Pond for a few days.  Nice rain here last night - hope some gets to the Pond.  It's a dust bowl now!……Recently a friend sent a link to TED and a talk by Susan Cain on introversion.  One of her major points is: "Stop the madness for constant group work - both in the workplace and in schools."  If that intrigues you, google it and listen to the talk.  I think she has a very important point - creativity comes from individual quiet time.  Group work is fine AFTER individual quiet time. Think of Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and many more highly creative people. I'll bet you can agree that your most creative moments come in silent periods.  For me, silent periods are absolutely essential to my happiness and my creativity.  Susan Cain's second major point was "Go to the wilderness to get inside your own head." And third, "Take a good look at what's inside your suitcase.  Take them out and grace us with your ideas."  You'll have to hear her talk to fully appreciate her messages.  Or, perhaps read her book "Quiet."

Yoga and Tomatoes

We're at the Pond for a couple days and enjoying tomatoes from my very own garden!
This is the first time I've had success with growing my own and what a joy!  We also made a trip to the recycling center and got rid of another truck load of stuff and a quick stop by the Faith Home store in Ninety Six to drop off a bit more.  I cannot tell you how freeing it is to eliminate STUFF from my life! …..ALSO, getting the Yogatorium ready for classes to begin August 3 - next MONDAY. Blankets washed, mats washed.   Got the floor mopped and next will clean windows - EAGER to see everyone a week from today!  Even in the mountains of North Carolina I'm practicing every day now!   What a delightful place of greenery to do so. …..This may be the best vacation I've ever enjoyed!  Hope you and all of your friends and family are enjoying the summer in spite of the unbelievable heat and dryness.  Have we ever been this dry and hot?  And it isn't even August yet!

Gladness

I'm in NC for a few days and enjoying a beautiful soft rain this morning.  I got in most of my yoga process out in the yard near the trees before the rain began and finished up on the porch.  A delight to hear the rain on the metal roof, which, of course, I can do at the Pond also.  But here everything is green - many trees very close to the house and lovely patches of summer flowers around….We arrived yesterday afternoon and put in a couple of hours of good clearing in the garage - loaded all the paint and other cans and bottles of useful stuff into my car to take home.  Getting down to the big stuff left to handle next. ….This morning's reading brought to my attention another word for happiness - gladness.  Reading Frederick Buechner's Secrets in the Dark chapter on calling of voices.  He says:  We should go with our lives where we most need to go and where we are most needed……the voice we should most listen to when choosing our vocation … ..is the voice of our own gladness.    I wonder how many of us have actually used that as our major factor in choosing whatever activity we have been in or are involved in now?  Can we even recognize our own gladness?  What does it take to make you or me glad?  ……And, how do we know where we are "most needed."  He says:  If we keep our lives open, the right place will find us.

The Pond Renovation is DONE!

It's finished.  William and Ral have now moved their equipment out to another site and we have the bill!  They did a beautiful job and I will heartily recommend William Nickles to anyone who has earth-moving jobs.  Here's a photo of the pipe that was installed.    If you're interested in the mechanism, I'll be glad to try to explain how it works when there is water in the Pond.  Soon, we hope, but probably not for months unless we get unusual amounts of rain.  Seems like we are due from some of that since everything is so dry now.  At any rate, for now the pond is a beautiful bowl just waiting to be filled.  What an experience this has been watching the two huge pieces of equipment creating the lovely bowl……Now I
m through with chores and ready for a week of vacation split between North Carolina mountains and the Pond.  All the yoga blankets have been washed, the mats have been washed, the floor vacuumed and mopped and all is ready for class on August 3. … but for now…..more play!

Dock Removal at Guest House

Today began at 7 this morning with Frank and Jim tearing the dock away from the Guest House while Bella (Jim's dog) watches from inside.  Once it is totally removed, much earth will be pushed up to make a bit of a yard behind the house.  If we ever decide we need steps again, we'll get them, but for now, we'll just get rid of the old wood, probably a big fire as soon as we can get a bit of cooler weather.  Can you imagine a huge fire in the pit while it is 100 degrees in the shade!  I think we'll wait a bit.  Yesterday both the track hoe and the dozer were working to get the earth out of the way at the dam to get down to clay.  Exciting to watch the way the two machines worked together!  Looks like work will continue at least through the coming week.

Progress on the Pond

Here is a view looking toward the dam before the split was filled and another from the top of the dam looking toward my cottage. Lots of beautiful soil being moved around and building up the dam.  That's what 30 years of silting in can do to the bottom of the pond.  

Renovating the Pond

Well, it's underway.  All day yesterday we sat on the porch and watched the excavator chew up small trees and the dozer pushing earth around.  The chewer/mulcher is a fascinating piece of equipment attached where the bucket is normally found.  It literally chews up trees and spreads the mulch around.  Here's what it looked like at the west end, and work on the east behind the dam.  Notice a new island is being created between the labyrinth (off the right side of the photo) and the peninsula (off to the left).  It rained last evening so it's a bit wet, but the excavator/chewer is already back at work this morning.  It's hard to do anything now but sit and watch the progress.  What a fun way to do nothing!