Friday, July 27, 2012

PUZZLES

Life is sometimes a puzzle to me.
I can't seem to leave it alone . . . my life.
Why can't I simply wander through each day and linger whenever I choose?
Why do I have to plan something or fix something or try to figure out my life?
Its impossible, you know.
One doesn't figure out one's life.
I should simply live it!

When life gets too intense and deadlines loom boldly in my face I simply step back and play with puzzles.
I try to fix things or find the missing piece when I have the least time for such trivia.
I remember learning to play bridge for the first time during college exam week.  That was eons ago but I still tend to digress from my schedule at the weirdest times.

For instance, remember the bricks I laid? (Previous Blog)
Here it is again.
The young guy who cuts our lawn told me of a 'close out' sale and offered to bring me as many bricks as I desired.
Sounded like a grand opportunity to create a 'little' path around my herb garden.
I think I simply laid down blocks and had no idea
what it looked like up close.  When I took this
picture I realized that it was 'legos gone wild.'
  Little path?
 I got a bit carried away.
 LOL.
It's OK. . . especially at the concave side on the left.
 I just followed the grass.

Some puzzles are best left alone but this one was too much of an eye sore to allow.
I HAD to fix it. . .  and fix it . . .  and . . .
Three very long days taking almost every brick out and creating a bit of order was back breaking . . . actually knee breaking.
 Oh, I had the knee pads and another little pad but I kept moving out of them.
 I'd lift several bricks at a time and move stones and whatever one does when solving puzzles.

This 'one-day' puzzle ended up taking
about two weeks, off and on.
I don't care how it looks.  I'm done.
I love lingering on the little bench and
watching my herbs grow.
Does this look better?
At least I no longer have a concave left side of the circle.
What seemed like a quick path around a bland garden has turned into a puzzle that I will forever be tweaking.
There always seems to be a missing piece.

Life is like that, isn't it.
Life seems like a puzzle with missing pieces.
Some people can accept empty spaces and simply enjoy the big picture.
 I am one of those people who chooses to forever look for the empty piece. . . that tiny, unfilled space.

I do pat myself on the back once in a while for attempting the project.  But I don't give myself enough credit for "completing it to the best of my ability."

And so I continue solving puzzles that take precious time from my work.
 I must say, the satisfaction does energize me and I seem to  meet the immovable deadlines.
 I'm also learning flexibility.
 Why not digress from my 'list' once in a while.
Why not breathe deep and accept imperfection.

Can you see the missing piece?
That reminds me.
 I purchased a puzzle for $4 at the chocolate store.
 I thought my 97 year old father would like it when I visit next winter (south . . . in the sun . . . warm . . . where I thaw out for a few days).
Only 500 pieces.
 How hard could that be?
 I'd never put a puzzle of more than 20 pieces together before.
 I wanted to make sure all the pieces were there.

Talk about digressing from life.
I was addicted!
 I'd linger after my morning workout to put a 'few' pieces together and . . . three hours later . . .
Needless to say, I get up very early and the basement is a perfect place to hide with a puzzle.
 I think it only took a few days to put it together but it was absolutely the wrong time.
 I had so many commitments that could not be ignored. . . and then . . .
Close up shot.  One piece missing and the puzzle
seems incomplete.  Yet, why not simply look at this
as an incredible accomplishment . . .  especially
when putting together the chocolate pieces.
. . .  I could not believe it.

A missing piece!
How dare they!
No wonder it was $4!

Life is full of missing pieces.
No matter how long and hard we work at living life, there are always holes.

As I age I am learning to linger with those holes.  Digression makes a 'hole' in my schedule. Yet it helps me to enjoy empty space.


It's a way of saying to myself, b-r-e-a-t-h-e.
It took a lop-sided path and a puzzle without a piece to help me see that holes in life are not so bad.

My life-verse reminds me of this. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him (and the holes in my life) and He will make those holes of life acceptable [actually, 'He will make your paths straight']."

I continue to learn to look at the big picture of my life, holes and all.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

SOUL REFRESHMENT

It's too hot to think, much less keep up with chores
Do I work or do I linger?
Do I feel a sense of accomplishment by DOING . . . or . . .
    is lingering more beneficial to my soul?
The dust piles up.
The to-do list gets longer.
I opt for soul-refreshment.

The words, 'soul-refreshment' seem to sound as cool as that stream of water I can only imagine running through my back yard.
Yes, we had a thunderstorm the other day that drenched deep.
Now we are parched again.
At least we had SOME rain.
We are doing better than most parts of this scorched earth.
Golden wheat was ready for harvest in early July.

The empty field is left to dry out for a season



I took a picture of the'Tea in a Garden' basket I created for a fund raiser.
The winner gave this to two Amish girls.
After enjoying their "Tea in a Garden," they
re-planted the flowers in their own little garden.


I look at the blooms that show off their vibrant color in the stinging sun.
The colors POP



I ponder over a path that I created around a benign herb garden.
It all looked so bland that I opted to create a "little"
brick path around each of the four quarters.
After all, the bricks were half price!
I should have left it alone but it IS much easier to get around.


Now it looks like 'legos-gone-wild.'  Oh My!
I'll re-work some of the bricks ... some day.
Right now I simply stare at it from an upstairs view.
Can you see the water hose at the bottom of the page?
That leads to a concrete stoop and entry into our shed.

 And so I sit.
Our annual drought dims the grass to parched tan.
Roses hold back their blooms.
Russian Sage loves every minute of scorching heat.
If grass can hibernate so can I.
I take my queues from God's creation.
 And so I sit as I write to whomever in the world reads this.
My soul refreshes in sharing my moments on the porch with you.
Sit down.
Join me for a spell?
Linger in this quiet moment.
Ahhhhh,
 . . . feel refreshed?

This is my most favorite 'summer spot.'  It's upstairs so I can
see the whole backyard garden from here.
 My morning reading is in the basket.
The curtain by the chair blocks the morning sun.
Just tie it in the middle and I still see the garden.


A simple breakfast sits ready.
Fun herbs and plants offer quick clips for salads.
My most favorite chair in summer.

I think I will browse a bit and find interesting thoughts to ponder on other blogs.
This lingering can become a habit.
Ahhhhh, soul refreshment.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

JULY 4TH

We say, "July 4th" and every citizen of the United States of America knows exactly what this means.
We celebrate with flags and parades and fireworks and picnics.
Day Lilies bursting like fireworks!
Notice the 'flag' look of the shaded shingles.

We linger in the wonder of it all.
Our independence has been and continues to be hard fought.
Daily we pray for our troops and those protecting us in our towns, cities, within this country and abroad.
We are so blessed with dedicated people who work hard in varied capacities to allow us the luxury of taking this day off to celebrate our freedom.
Yet, freedom is never free, is it.
My flag wall
I am so in love with this country and what it has offered me and those I love that I celebrate all year long.  In fact, when I went to my file to find a picture of a flag, I could only find what reminds me of flags.
I have the 'flag-look' all over the house and garden.
Some shots you have seen before.
No high flying flags . . .  but you get the idea.
I'm proud to be an American and to live in this land of the free.
Address card holder.  Although we have everything
on the computer, I still enjoy my 'paper trail.'

My girlfriend made this pot holder that sits on
my counter, ready for hot things . . . like my
morning tea.





Fun flag in the garden.

A flower arrangement that is over twenty years
old sits on a table at my dad's home.  His wife
loved red, white and blue too.

My neighbor made this flag.
My worn out chair that
I so love.
Stars and Stripes

My summer arrangement for the front door.



I saw this design at a museum and tried to
re-created it.  Look closely.
WELCOME! lingers within the stars and stripes.


Uncle Sam 'nods' back and forth
when I give him a slight push.

Gussy up a plain white chair with a little flag.
Why not!
The slip of canvas easily comes off
when I choose.


My sister gave this to me years ago.
I move it around to fill an empty spot.

Just enough room on top of tall book cases
for a patriotic theme.

Stars and Uncle Sam linger on top of another book case.


My all time favorite print . . .  Jasper Johns




HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!