The Spell is Broken

Well, I have finally received the sign that I have been waiting for. The gazing ball in our front yard mysteriously shattered this weekend. That is the daffy duck in a turban image you see above. And to seal the deal, one of the back porch lights mysteriously shattered last night (though the light did not go out... good thing). You see, we have been patiently waiting to sell our house, buy a Eurovan and take off to see the country for a few years. It has been the worst market to sell a house... even a terrific house like the one we have lived in for the past 13 years. It has given us a lot of joy, but now that the kids are grown and gone, it is just too big and unnecessary. The other day I got really frustrated thinking about our plans that are on hold and I got mad and shouted at the top of my lungs, "I can't stand this house anymore... I just want to go!" Maybe it was the house fairies who finally got the message, or the piskies that live out in the back yard, but somebody heard my yell and I get the feeling that they are taking me seriously now. I'm thankful for all the good times here, but there is another family out there who needs all these rooms and this big old yard. We are putting the house back on the market on Thursday and whoever looks at it will see all the wonderful repairs we did for the next owners (new windows, sealed basement, painting). I think the time has come for us to get those buyers so we can pursue our dream... I will not be replacing the gazing ball... the next owners can do that if they so choose.

A Good Day Planned

All is quiet within our house, except for the chewing that Otis my bunny is doing to the old Oxford dictionary in the bookcase. Outside the birds are chirping loudly, the bluejays are actually screaming at the rising sun that is peering in my eastern window. Baby girl is still in her car seat fast asleep, and occasionally I hear I soft little stir from her and although I can't wait for her to wake up so I can kiss her sleepy morning face, I also feel like shhushing the bluejays so the pretty song of the chickadee can be heard. It is going to be a lovely Spring day here and I have the pram (aka carriage) ready for my little grand-daughter. Once the temperature rises a bit, we will go for a long spin around the block in search of signs of spring. Although the pram is old (probably 50+ years old) and a bit scary looking, I line it with clean sheets and I must say it rides smoothly over the sidewalks and cracked pavement. We'll stroll around the neighborhood and I'll point out all the budding trees of interest, the Spring flowers, and the various sounds of the birds. I'm also teaching Annabel sign language as I read that this exercise will help her with vocabulary development. Of course, we will listen to music... opera is on the playlist for today, especially Queen of the Night aria from Mozart's The Magic Flute as baby girl loves to exercise her vocal chords with a high pitched soprano squeal of delight now and again. Oh, guess who just woke up with a big sleepy smile? Gotta go... we have a busy day planned!

Gratefulness: Filling in the Blanks

I have a beautiful book that I use to remind me of all the things that I'm grateful for. It's a part of my morning ritual where I choose the first four things that come to mind for that particular day that gives me reason to smile, to be happy, or to feel thankful for. It comes in very handy on those days when I feel lonely, or out of sorts, or just plain blue. I look back at all the entries that have been recorded and like magick, suddenly I don't feel so bad. Some entries are highly personal and directed at specific things or people in my life and some are very general and are probably things other people would share in being grateful for as well. For instance:

• courage in the face of fear
• the timely greeting of a budding tree
• living abundantly in abundance
• new friends and old alike
• the gift of imagination
• sharing laughter
• the grace of the full moon
• walking in wonder
• team spirit
• the quietness of falling snow
• a clean bill of health
• the love of a pet

You can see how I've managed to complete half of book... when I'm feeling up to it. And when I'm not, I need only to read what was once written and realize that although everything changes, there is always something new and exciting to experience or be grateful for. Sometimes the best way to remember these things is to write them down, lest we forget.

The beautiful picture here is called Moon Maiden by Jean and Ron Henry. and on the back of my book is an extract from Tis moonlight, summer moonlight by Emily Bronte:

'Tis moonlight, summer moonlight

All soft and still and fair;

The solemn hour of midnight

Breathes sweet thoughts everywhere...

A Flood of Memories

After a weekend of rain and some of the worst flooding my town has seen in years, I rode my bike past Mountainview Park... the site of some good old fashioned memories of my childhood. The park playground has since been made safer for children with plastic amusements taking the place of the old metal fort with the pirate chains that I used to climb. There were pitched fingers and scrapes and bruises that were just part of the rough and tumble play ground experience back then. At 10 years old you no longer required the accompaniment of your parents... in fact that was considered uncool to have them hanging around. We were brave little daredevils who would play for hours using only our imaginations and lots of energy. There were territorial battles amongst kids from different neighborhoods... nothing serious, as we all knew who the serial bullies were and our intuition guided us from receiving any unnecessary harm from them. I looked at the current fort with the caution tape around it and wondered who would have waded into the flood waters to put it in place... I mean the only people who would not realize the danger in playing there now would probably not be able to read or understand the word, and a parent would have to be present as kids don't go anywhere without their parents in tow now.
Yes, the world is changing... freedom and a sense of adventure are slowing being replaced by neuroticism and fear... and Nature it seems is just playing along.

Signs of Spring

It's rainy and cold and although there is no use complaining about the weather, I'm really looking forward to Spring's official arrival. Yesterday I heard the sweet trill of the Eastern Meadowlark, which made me stop my bike ride and search in the trees for the the gray and yellow bird. I only saw the blended colors of yellow and gray as the bird flew away... but it made me smile. I've seen numerous robins that travel in packs over the winter, but it's when they pick their nesting territory that they become more solitary and sing as they prepare their nests for those beautiful blue eggs. As for the sparrows, they have been very frisky in the quiet recesses of my front juniper bushes... they will be nesting soon I'm sure of it!

I have also been watching the tips of the daffodils creep up and out of the earth since February and only fretted a little when the last giant snowstorm buried them... they are hardy and will bloom as expected... I have seen it before. I have also monitored the bursting bloom of the little snowdrop flowers that appear even if there is still snow on the ground. They look so fragile but they can withstand the tricky fluctuations of March temperatures. And then there is my one lone crocus that has just bloomed two days ago. I remember planting about 50-60 bulbs several years ago, however the squirrels just love them and they have no remorse as they dig them up and eat them right in front of me. I just know that next year there will be none left (hopefully our house will be sold so I won't miss them).

The surest sign of Spring for me is this almost undefinable sense of excitement as I begin to envision all those comforting images of buzzing bees on flowers, young green buds sprouting from tree branches, fluffy white clouds wafting over clear blue skies that come after the rains... and that first warm day when outerwear becomes obsolete!

Playtime!

Mondays are eagerly anticipated as I prepare for my visit to babysit Annabel, my "baby girl." At three months old she is such a delight and our day together goes by very quickly. When I show up she has been fed and is usually content to play for a brief spell. We go to her crib where she loves watching her musical mobile go round and round and especially delights when I play her musical puppy at the same time. Then I bring all the crib animals to life to talk and dance for her as she wiggles and coos. Her favorite thing to watch, however, is the paddle fan in the living room. I manually spin it as I hold her and I marvel at how her eyes widen and become fixated on the whirling blades. Then is a sense of wonder in her bright little eyes and she smiles transfixed on the spectacle. Perhaps she has a future in windmill technology... she IS a genius you know! After a nice nap that allows me some reading time and light housekeeping for my own daughter "Beauty" we quickly warm a baa baa, as she wakes with a ferocious appetite. She is cuddled and kissed as she sucks down her formula... to my gentle reminders of "slow down... take human gulps baby girl!" Then like a little rag doll, she drapes over my shoulder and expels the inevitable milk belch. Once fed and after a quick cat nap, we go to the changing table where she wakes up and delights in grabbing her toes as I skillfully change her diaper. Big smiles and coos accompany this ritual, and then she is ready to play. We usually have a lesson in classical music... currently we are listening to Bach harpsichord concertos as we minuet together across her bedroom floor. Then we go downstairs to her elaborate baby play station where she will grab at the suspended rattles and pulls them towards her mouth... hoping for a little taste. Lately she is into Nick... the children's channel where we might catch an episode of Max and Ruby or Dance Beat... but not too much TV, I don't want her to become a couch potato!

Yesterday the weather was a balmy 56 degrees so I assembled the high tech stroller and we went out for a walk in the March winds and listened to all the sounds of Nature waking up from the end of the cold Winter. As we sat on the back deck in the warmth of the sunshine, two hawks swooped down in screeching play and we watched them dive-bomb each other for quite some time. We were also visited by a low flying Turkey Buzzard who swooped down and tipped his wings with a big hello! The fresh air made baby girl sleepy and after another bottle of milk, she enjoyed another big nap as Lilydog, and Milo and Mimi (the cats) crept quietly around her to grace my lap for their share of Granny Wen attention. What a great day... time does fly when you're having fun!

All in a Day's Work

I started my new job this week... one that I know will turn into a rewarding career. I am babysitting my grand daughter Annabel and boy the time flys when we are together. She arrives sleeping in her car seat as the lull of the travel puts her to sleep. It is all I can do to keep from snatching her up to greet her with hugs and kisses. I respectfully wait until she slowly wakes in the heat of my home and stretches and yawns as those big blue eyes still watery from sleep open and take in the unfamiliar surroundings. There is a brief grimace of worry which I refer to as the boo boo face and at that point I can't resist gently lifting her out of her darkened confinement and into my arms for warm kisses on that perfect peach of a sweet smelling baby head. Her little wobbly head surveys the surroundings and then she looks right into my eyes and a big drooly smile lights up my world! After weeks of practice at her own home, I know her routine and I heat a bottle for her to ward off the inevitable tantrum that will occur if I am late for her breakfast. Hungrily she sucks down the formula, all the while cooing and gulping... I don't dare pull that nipple out until the bottle is empty or I know she will punish me with a frustrated whimper. Once fed she will dangle over my shoulder as I pat her for a belch or two, as she naps a bit with the half closed eyes of the "milk drunk." I gently dap her chin with her bib and place her in the Boppy pillow for a little nap. Soon she awakens and is bright eyed and ready for some fun. On goes the music and we dance and whirl around my empty living room for several songs. When my back signals that I have met my limit, she goes in her swing and she watches me sing and dance for her while she gnaws on the many rattle toys offered to her. All her senses are on high alert as she learns about her place in the world with her long delicate fingers and the sensations tasted by her exploring mouth. I laugh as she lets out her little screams of delight... she has a lot to say and a big bright voice to say it with. I understand her contentment!

I show her all my latest nature photos in a slide show and she ooohs and ahhs in cooing fashion. Then we might play a computer game of Luxor Ma Jong, which is colorful and stimulating for her as my mouse clicks the matches and I call out the numbers and symbols. She gets very excited as the background music of the game works into a quiet frenzy as the coupled tiles disappear. Before long it is changing time, feeding time, nap time... and then more learning games and lots of hugs and kisses. My daughter arrives as we are singing along with Madonna... "Cherish, is word I use to remind me of... your looovvvee!" Belee and I are like peas and carrots and I'm getting her used to the video cam so when Gerry and I hit the road in our Eurovan this year, she and I can still communicate.