The Lantern Project

On 7-18 December 2009, leaders from around the world will meet in Copenhagen to talk about ways to deal with global warming. They aim to agree on worldwide targets for reducing harmful emissions and protecting the environment for the future.

Show world leaders that YOU think the world is worth saving by joining the Earth Hour Lantern Project. Just make a lantern as your vote for Earth, and it will be sent to Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference.

Please go to this website to make a lantern and join the most important vote in history:

http://www.earthhour.org/lantern/

Thanks,
Gail

St Nicholas

Saturday morning we had a St. Nicholas Day Festival at church. Lots of fun activities for kids and adults. St. Nicholas even showed up and gave the kids a "goodie bag." I was able to take a picture of him before he got away.

I was in charge of making grilled cheese sandwiches for all. Yum!

Giving Thanks

Forty five years ago today I missed my Thanksgiving dinner. It was the day my son, Eric, was born. So food, or no food, I had a lot to be thankful for.

Today I went to my daughter's home for Thanksgiving dinner. I still have a lot to be thankful for: I'm thankful I have enough to eat and family to eat with. I'm thankful I have a home to come home to, a job which enables me to earn some money, the nice music I am listening too right now, the candles which are glowing on this table, the wonderful weather we are having and the beauty of nature.

Grandson, Chris and son-law, Chip straining gravy!

You crown the year with your bounty;

your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together with joy.
- Psalm 65:11-13

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Ride to Work

The weather has been beautiful this week, inspiring me to pump up my bike tires and ride to work. I have had this bike since the mid-eighties. It still works fine. The dent in the back fender came from the garage door coming down on it a few years back.

Inspired by my friend Wanda's pictures taken on a ride down the road to Lucerne from Holden, I grabbed my camera on the way out the door the other day. I liked her shadow picture, so took one of my own. Whereas she took hers while riding, I actually stopped to take mine. I'm not so brave!

I pass this tree a couple of blocks from home. This is the real reason I took my camera. The morning sun shining on this tree turns it to a bright burnt orange. I am in awe every morning as I pass by. I wanted to preserve it before it's too late. Rain is predicted early next week and the leaves may be gone after that. I may never have paid attention to such a beautiful sight while driving a car.

The Old Bag!

I have this old clothespin bag. When I moved into my house 38 years ago, it was here - left behind by the former owners. Since they were the original owners and the house was nine years old when I moved in, this poor bag could be anywhere from 39 to 47 years old.

This bag has been here all this time. I have used it all this time. I have never liked the design or colors on the fabric. Why is it still here? Because I love this bag. I love the way it hangs over the clothesline, the way the clothespins sound when I drop them into it, the way it relaxes in the laundry basket as I carry it in or out of the house. This clothespin bag and I have grown old together. I have not used this bag faithfully over the years as I have used a dryer most of the time. I have, however, used it during certain seasons of the year, mostly fall and winter.

But...now I have not used my dryer for over a year. I vowed that I would do my part for the environment by not drying my clothes in a dryer. And I haven't. So the clothespin bag and I trek out to the back yard every Saturday morning (if it's not raining) and hang my clothes on the clothesline. The poor clothespin bag is falling apart after all these years. I am going to try to repair it and see how much longer it will last. Why am I doing this? Good question. For some reason when something is that old, I want to keep it. Maybe I want to see how much longer it will last. I have been watching it go downhill now for several years, and have planned to make repairs. It's at the point now where I will have to either repair it or toss it. I choose to repair it if I can. It is strange, but I just want to keep the old bag!

Two Weeks at Holden

Flowers still bloom in the flower boxes while snow falls on the mountain tops

I just returned from spending two glorious weeks at Holden.
A time to enjoy
sunshine, blue skies,
cool days and cooler nights,
starry skies, full moon.
A time to be with old friends and meet new ones.
A time to work, time to relax.
A time to attend sessions.
A time to watch "Fellowship of the Rings" again.
A time to ride my bike alone and with friends.
A time to share hopes and dreams.

Vacation - Part VII - Back Home

August 11th.

We left Ferry Beach about 7:30 a.m. Liz drove me back to the train depot in Saco. The rain that had been predicted for a few days hit while I was waiting for the train, but stopped soon after I boarded. (Or maybe the train just moved away from it.)

The two hour trip back to Boston went pretty fast. I sat next to a woman from Paris, France, and we had a really nice discussion about how things are done there versus in the U.S. It was very interesting to hear about their child care and medical care programs.

After riding the subway in Boston back to the airport, I had time for a quick lunch before boarding the plane back to DFW. I must say a few words about Midwest Airlines. They are a really good airline. The crew is so friendly and hospitable. The seats are good sized and there is enough leg room, unlike some other airlines. And on each flight they serve two complimentary homemade (on the plane) warm chocolate chip cookies. Well, since I was on two flights today (Boston to Milwaukee and Milwaukee to DFW) I got to have four of those cookies. What more could you ask for?

Epilogue - August 12th

After the bike ride Monday and sitting all day yesterday on trains and planes, I was really stiff today. I am hoping tomorrow will be an improvement in my movement!