Wow.

Sunday night I, along with all of you, received news.  By now everyone knows that Obama announced the capture and death of Osama.  I felt my heart quicken and know an audible gasp escaped my lips when the interruption came through on a favorite evening broadcast.  I really can not reconcile all the thoughts that continue to race through my mind, and well, the days ahead will tell the story and the future of this great nation begins anew.  

I thought our President delivered the news with class and confidence.  I think of the times that I have tried to keep a secret and how difficult it is!   I get so excited, emotional or exasperated I feel I might pop.  How was this kept a secret? How did Mr. Obama go about his business, even a party? That’s nerves of steel, my friends. 

So many brave young people, so much time.  I am not an overtly political person and there is so much we don’t know about the last 10 years or the 100 years that preceded.  I wish I had kept an email that was sent to a co-worker of mine from her son-in-law who was serving in Iraq shortly after September 11.  The picture attachment is something I will never forget, as the smiling young soldier stood by a downed billboard.  On one half of the billboard was a crude representation, almost a cartoon,  of planes flying into two towers, with flames shooting out windows.  On the other half,  a caricature of Saddam Hussein, laughing.  I have felt, since that email first crossed my desk, that it is all much more closely tied together than a lot of us realize.  I am not a student of the Middle East nor do I keep as well informed as I should on these matters.  I have no idea if Saddam and Osama ever met, ever had lunch.  But I feel they applauded and encouraged each other and their hatred made them brothers, buddies, compatriots, pals.  I feel no loss for either of these men.   

That being said, I don’t feel like I can go to a parade over it, but I don’t mind if others do.  I don’t think I can fully put my thoughts altogether in one place as I am as conflicted on this issue and how to react as I have ever been.  On the other hand, I am as proud of the President, the military and their special abilities as any American could be.  Boo-rah, ya’ll.  Do not mistake my inner conflict with my patriotism, please! 

I’m not able to sleep and I wish I could.  Instead, I started looking through pictures and dusting off some memories.  I will regret this tomorrow...I guess today...but I have enjoyed it. 

Yes, yes when I see the old lady in the mirror with the tired eyes and wrinkles I’ll regret this late night prowl.  I’ve been distracted and awakened now by memories.  I think it would be great if when your mind starts to wander like this it led you to sleep instead of away from it.  As I pause over this picture or that, or rest at the feet of a memory, I am teased by fatigue but not devoured. 

It just crossed my mind that I am glad I don’t feel the urge to snack during these sessions. 

Death of a chainsaw.

At least it isn't death BY chainsaw. 

The woods cleaning got underway this past weekend, under cloudy skies and a bit of a chill.  The tree top that has been down for almost a year was cut and cleared.  Things were going very well indeed.   Using the oldest hands to the youngest, wood was cut, stacked, and loaded.  

Nice lunch break; moving along quite nicely.  Restart the chainsaw.  Clunk.  Try again.  Clang.  Switch it up, new user.  Pull and putter, choke. Dead. 

So, only about a third of the work done but it does look nice.  One tree top gone and a few dead, small ones out.  The uprooted one is still there, having done a "face-plant" in one of the big winds last summer.  I have a friend who is a tree person and he tells me I need to keep the maple trees out of the woods.  They will take over and choke out trees that I might be more interested in keeping - like my beloved dogwoods.   I bet we pulled out 50 little maple tree saplings and that was only because I whined.  He also suggested a controlled burn.  Right. 

This was only half of one side of the woods. I know it sounds like it must be acres upon acres.  Its not but it is still a lot of work and now work that will wait until the chain saw and his master are back on track.  Some gizmo or another has been replaced and now reassembly is needed and maybe a dose of inspiration.   

There are woods down the road from us that inspired me but I am not sure everyone has taken hold yet.  It is such a beautiful setting with no old scrub trees, dead snags or underbrush.  I may not get there but I’ll get close...just you watch. 

Probably don't deserve this.

A misty spring morning and the call of a loon.  Seriously? I am sure I don't deserve this,  but I am so grateful for it.

Kitties and bunnies

I know you were all thinking “Go, Cindi, Go!” last week when I thought I might begin tackling some yard work.  You also are probably not surprised to hear it didn’t happen.  Its 30 degrees outside for crying out loud!  Those little tree limbs are just gonna have to wait. 

So right outside my office window is a huge, and I mean gigantic huge, rhododendron bush.  Heck, its not a bush; it is a housing development.  We are geared to take it down this year as it is just taking over.  Its been here for a very long time.  In fact, this bush gave birth to a bush my sister-in-law removed two or three years ago from next door...because IT had gotten too big, if that gives you an idea.  The bush is done for as far as I am concerned. 

There is a problem, however.  Aside from the birdies just loving it, it is shelter to bunnies..but also some feral cats.  I am just positive that one or two of them must be expecting babies by now and more than likely will give birth inside that bush.   This creates an issue.  

If you are curious, yes, these cats stayed outside all winter and where? I have no idea if not in that bush.  My sister-in-law does occasionally set out a bowl of food and I have also seen a mysterious quilt draped over a bench on the deck next door, making a suspicious “lean to”.  However, they primarily stayed, well, I guess outside, all winter. 

I have no idea where these cats came from as one day they were just here.  I originally thought they came from a new family that moved in to the old priest’s house on the corner.  But, I no longer think that’s the case and may just be a coincidence, but there are at least six of them, and just today I noticed a new one -  a small black cat that appears a bit younger than the rest.  Now what? 

Now what?

Now, what? What now? I believe I am not the only one who asks this question, whether to ourselves, our partners or the atmosphere.  My new blog focus will be more on, well, “to dos” and adventures!  Not so much reminiscing and wistful pondering as forward thinking, and plotting!  I am happy to have blown the cobwebs off a few memories, but, enough with that already! 

To get started, let me give you an idea of what’s facing me right now.  Yard work.  It is facing all of us, I imagine.  I accept that we have a huge expanse of dirt to manage and, quite frankly, I don’t know how long mister and myself will be able to keep it up. I know I don’t have the bend in the knees and back that I use to, and while I really enjoy the beautiful grounds of Augusta, someone gets paid big bucks to manage those grounds, and has many workers.  I read somewhere that if the azaleas are ready to bloom too early in Augusta for the big golf event they ice them down to hold off the blooms! Can you imagine? I rejoice whenever a bloom opens in my yard and can’t wrap my head around making them not bloom! 

My first “Now what?” is, how am I going to get all this yard work accomplished?  I have visions of epic grandeur for my space and well, no pot of gold, for one and no leprechauns.  I need some worker bees.  I thought I had it all planned out as all three of my offspring were here last weekend and were rake ready.  However, it was colder than anticipated, one developed strep throat and one son-in-law was unable to be here.  So much for that plan, now what? 

There are plans underway for them to all visit again soon.  We still have some tree “mess” to clean up from the storms last summer which is a big task, and needs more hands.   It will make a nice difference for the daffodils and tulips that will soon be shouting!  

I am glad it is spring.  I am glad there is work to be done.  I am anxious to oil up the garden weasel tool and take on some weeding.  I have spent a lot of time indoors this past six months - I am ready for some fresh air and putting in hard time in the yard.   It can’t be done in a day, this is for sure, but, it will get done.  Get ye outside! 

Signs, signs.

Crocus in a small little clump in bloom on the hill next door and swans in the open water.  Its been a long, long winter and these are good signs, folks...very good signs.  I have had my days of being too cooped up, too gloomy and am ready for the warmth of this sun and spring.  I’ve never been big into sitting in the sun.  Not my thing and never really was.  I’ve got enough Irish blood in me to be too fair and freckly to tan, and well, I just never saw the point.  I don’t mind having a tan, and I don’t avoid the sun so much but it just was never a priority for me.  If the sun hits my skin and turns it a color while I am outside, that’s good enough for me.  (I do use sunscreen.  I am not insane.)  Now, as I read the label on my high blood pressure medicine, it appears that I am to avoid prolonged exposure anyway.  Alright. 

I use to burn the heck out of my scalp, you see, as I am a pin head and can’t pull off hats.  I wish I had a long, graceful neck so that I might don a big brim hat with ease but I don’t, I can’t.  I do have a neck but I also have, well, high shoulders.  Hats just look silly, and flatten down my already straight hair and then, well, you know, I have a pin head.   The problem is, now that my hair has “lost its pigment” and is somewhat thinner than it use to be I can really, really blister the ol’ noggin’ if I don’t wear a hat while I’m in the sun.  

It really isn’t even a matter of being short.  I know short people with long necks.  My friend Carolyn can wear hats.  My youngest child has a beautiful, graceful neck with pretty collar bones.  She looks great in hats and is not tall.  But, I’m a pinhead and like many things in the fashion industry, they don’t make hats for pinheads.  Here’s the beauty, though.  I am now, and I think we have established that it is certifiable, old enough to not really care how a hat looks on me.  

A hat has become part of my warm weather, sun wardrobe.  If I am lucky enough to travel to some sunny vacation spot, I will sport a hat.  As I think about the upcoming spring and summer, I know I will be wearing a hat.  You might see me out in the boat in a hat.  In the yard in a hat.  At the 4th of July parade in a hat.  Look for me, I will be the pinhead and may even have youngsters pointing and giggling in my general direction while their mothers pull them away.  Bring on the sun! 

This, I think you will agree, has been a really rough few days.  We’ve all seen the news reports and the videos online so, what I have to offer here is trivial when reading what is happening in Japan.   Keep them close in your hearts and prayers...shoot, keep all of us close in your hearts and prayers.