Live!

This morning : Sunday morning. The house was quiet and  very peaceful when I got up. No one else was up, no TV noise on, no one talking.  I let the dogs out, flicked the switch to turn the coffee on, and cut up the big Cortland apples I had left from a bushel I bought a week ago, and put them on the stove with some sugar, water and cinnamon to cook down for applesauce.  Then whipped together another apple cake, this one for my neighbor who is always baking and doing for us.  I poured myself a cup of hot Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice coffee, and went to check on the dogs. The air was crisp, and chill, and the scent of someones' wood smoke drifted across my back yard. The sun was just coming up through the trees behind the fence on the eastern side of my lawn.  I just stood, with a hot cup of coffee in my hands, and drank it in for a few moments. This is the very essence of Autumn, I realized.  In fact, isn't this the very essence of life? To drink it in, savor it, realize what a gift it is to us EVERY day?  I used to HATE fall, because of the chilly temperatures, the cold rains that dropped the colored leaves and left the world grey and dreary, and because it meant the coming of winter. How I came to love winter, instead of hating and dreading it, is another long story in itself, but I guess the point is, as I get older, I appreciate or TRY to, every day, every season. Sometimes it is easier than others. Today, it is easy to appreciate the colors and scents and tastes of fall. I'm in my glory with cinnamon, pumpkin, and apples and wood smoke. But wood smoke smells even better when it is carried on frosty winter air too, and I need to remember that. And if the world is grey and dreary outside, in November, then I need to remember that I have a warm, cozy house and crocheting projects I started last winter to work on inside, and appreciate the time a dreary world outside gives us to work on inside things. This morning is a reminder of all that is good in my life, and a reminder to live cognizant of all that is good in my life EVERY day, even when it doesn't stand out as clearly, even when the Pumpkin Spice coffee has been replaced by plain old Maxwell House or the right coffee mug for the day is in the dishwasher.
My favorite book right now is called, simply, Life is a Verb. And it is, so get up early, savor the coffee, appreciate the cool air on your face as you look to the sun, and live it today.

MY wish

"My Wish"
I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,


And each road leads you where you want to go,


And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,


I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.


And if one door opens to another door closed,


I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,


If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,


But more than anything, more than anything,


My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,


Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,


You never need to carry more than you can hold,


And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,


I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,


Yeah, this, is my wish.


I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,


All the ones who love you, in the place you left,


I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,


And you help somebody every chance you get,


Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,


And you always give more than you take.


But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,


My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,


Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,


You never need to carry more than you can hold,


And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,


I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,


Yeah, this, is my wish.


My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,


Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,


You never need to carry more than you can hold,


And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,


I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,


Yeah, this, is my wish.


This is my wish


I hope you know somebody loves you


May all your dreams stay big

This is my wish, too, for so many people in my life. A little sappy, maybe, but I'm feeling it today. Grateful for the people who make up my life. My children, my friends (those I see every day, and those whom I seldom, or never, get to see), my family, the kids I work with every day, and just some people I just carry around with me in my heart, always. Tucked in there tightly!  If you are reading this, it is definitely MY wish for you, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz32I_GbpeU&feature=related

The Little Red Hen Who Went to School

The Little Red Hen came to school last week to visit with the pre-schoolers, after they had just finished reading the fictional version of the same story. MY little red hen demonstrated that she likes to EAT bread, but was probably not terribly efficient at baking it.  She also flapped her wings a bit, strutted around, ate some scratch corn, and generally looked rather indifferent at being in school instead of at home in the coop. I kept her in a large dog crate filled with hay in my classroom for the day, since we have two half-day preschool sessions, and the teacher wanted her to visit both. I also let her out to roam around my classroom for much of the day, and she came to sit on my lap while I worked at the computer for awhile.  People were amazed that you can pet her just like a cat, and that she is that friendly and fun. Personally, I think having a hen in the classroom as a pet would simply just make every day better for me. I'm guessing we are probably the only classroom to have hosted cats, kittens, puppies, and chickens, loose, for a day, simply because my co-worker and I are both animal lovers. If there is a kitten wandering around the playground, or a dog out in the rain, why not bring them in to our room for the day?  That's OUR view at least, and so far, no one has minded overly much.  My superintendent, whose husband runs a pig farm, didn't bat an eye when she walked in and Miss Hen was wandering about last week. SOMETIMES I LOVE my school!!!

Missing Moose

It's been 2 and a half years since Moosey was hit by a car, and left his sister Anvik behind. I still miss him every single day. What a big ... Moose, he was.

Gratitude

It has rained all day today. Again. And it was cold. The high was 45 degrees. So it's been a cold, steady downpour, all day long. But today? I'm grateful for the rain, because it made coming home to a warm, dry house a wonderful thing.  I'm grateful that I have a warm, dry house to come home TO. Many people don't.
I'm also grateful today for:

• an early dismissal day (1:00 instead of 3:00) tomorrow at school, because it mixes up our periods and shortens them, and I love ANY day that is "different;"  I've been craving a little excitement or something DIFFERENT lately, and even this is cause for small celebration

• it's also "Spirit Week" at school this week, because it is Homecoming weekend coming up. THIS means I get to wear jeans and sneakers all week - which totally makes my days better for this week. I'm all for professional wear, and would not CHOOSE to wear jeans to work daily, even if I could, but it IS nice to have a week where I can, and it's acceptable.  It's especially nice since it has been so cold that I can wear jeans and sneaks and sweatshirts, my go-to comfort wear always, and be comfy AND warm enough this week!

• the fact that my dad was NOT in bed, and NOT sleeping today when I stopped at the nursing home to visit him. Today he was up, in the activity room, playing Yahtzee with several other residents. This is a HUGE step for him. HUGE.

• I made Jennifer's "stodgy English" Apple Cake recipe last night (http://www.http//milkweedandteasel.blogspot.com/) and it totally looked like it wasn't going to turn out at all, but it did, and I've eaten more than half the pan and can't stop eating it no matter HOW much weight I want to lose; it's THAT GOOD.

• my daughter and her boyfriend of more than a year broke up Saturday - it's not been an easy break, as one would wish for. It's not been "pretty" and it's not been a good time for her, even though she was ready, and it's been messy, and sad, and a little bit scarey, but I am SO RELIEVED. I have been PRAYING for this for months. He is just SO VERY VERY WRONG for her, and I am SO glad it is done...

• Two different friends have had dogs inadvertently run away in the past couple weeks, and both were gone weeks - 2 1/2 and 3 - and both dogs have come home; they are both a little worse for wear, but will make it, with some vet attention and a little TLC

• I am making pumpkin pie oatmeal for dinner tomorrow night, and pumpkin pancakes (I love, love, love pumpkin flavored ANYTHING this time of  year) and both kids who will be home for dinner have said, albeit a bit grudgingly, that they are game for it,. I'm excited!  I love home made oatmeal, and homemade pumpkin pie oatmeal sounds AMAZING!

• My 28 fifth graders and my 20 6th graders are two awesome groups of students this year. I really, really like them, and it makes teaching them easier, because they are such nice kids. And despite the fact that there are 4 adults in my room, we are all working well together, and I think it is to the benefit of ALL of the kids, and it is, at times, a  HUGE help for me. I like it much better than I anticipated.

• It's about time to start a new quilt for this winter's project. I'm thinking dark purples and dark blues this year. I am excited to start that. I love picking out quilt fabrics.

• Um, that's it. Oh, no, wait - it's STILL raining, and I'm now off to bed, and I get to crack the window and listen to the rain as I fall asleep. THAT's always something to be grateful for. I love the rain as I sleep, even if it feels so cold that I'm not sure I won't wake up to snow tomorrow.

Poetry?

I hate to be around unhappy, miserable people;
I hate stewed tomatoes, buttered beets, and milk unless it is soy;
I hate socializing with people:
I hate math:
I hate worrying about money all the time:
I hate cooking:
I hate it when a dog dies:
I hate watching people I love get old:
I hate The Godfather movie on TV:
I hate going to the dentist.

I like laying on my back in the woods with my eyes closed, listening;
I like camping in a tent;
I like corn on the cob with lots of butter and salt;
I like hiking;
I like dogs in general and I like liking different kinds of dogs;
I like good red wine;
I like sleeping;
I like rain on a tin roof;
I like solitude;
I like fires in a fireplace, in a woodstove, or in a campfire ring.

I hate politics;
I hate arguing;
I hate being ignored;
I hate owing money;
I hate being an "only child";
I hate a messy house and a messy yard;
I hate feeling lonely;
I hate coming to the end of a really good book;
I hate working at a job I don't love;
I hate the suffering of any animal.

I like hot coffee first thing in the morning;
I like the first snow;
I like the silence and freedom of dogsledding;
I like Alaska;
I like the mountains, and I like the ocean;
I like red raspberries;
I like chocolate;
I like blue jeans and sweatshirts;
I like the outdoors;
I like tucking chickens in for the night.

Today, there was Sunshine on my Shoulders...

     Have you ever read that book, If You Give  a Mouse a Cookie,  or any of the subsequent books in the same vein by Laura Numeroff?   If not, a quick synopsis shows a series of actions, each of  which has a consequence that lead to another action, which leads to another action, and so on. 
     Today, late this afternoon, the sun came out here. I had almost forgotten what it looked like, or what my world looks like when it is illuminated during daytime hours.  Thinking about the sun led me to looking up the song "Here Comes the Sun," by the Beatles, on youtube. Listening to that song by the Beatles led me to thinking of my favorite Beatles' song, "Blackbird.," so I listened to that.  SOMEHOW that made me think of the old Loggins and Messina song, "House at Pooh Corner," and I found a great acoustic, current youtube version of Kenny Loggins doing that, and my other favorites by them/him, "Danny's Song"  and "Watching the River Run."   Listening to these old song, brought back some older-days memories for me, of all the great music  I listened to growing up:  Jim Croce, Olivia Newton John, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Pure Prairie League, Crystal  Gayle, Elton John, Simon and Garfunkel (oh my gosh, have you ever listened to the S & G Song, "Kathy's Song"?  SO good)  Well, ALL of this is to say that ultimately, my series of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" musical actions led me back to my very first and most serious musical love affair of my whole life:  John Denver. 
     I have been sitting here this afternoon, just letting layers and layers of warm and wonderful emotions and memories wash over me, rolling through one JD song after another on youtube.  I wish I was fluent enough and gifted enough with words to even begin to describe what his music used to do for me. I lived it, lived with it, from the first album, "John Denver's Greatist Hits,"  given to me by my older brother Jeff, for Christmas when I was in 5th grade.  I was going to say 1974, but I see it was released in 1973, just before the holiday season, so it would make more sense it was that year. Doesn't really matter. I can still see the cover, SO clearly. It was green, with a smiling country-bumpkin Denver on the front, holding on to his hat. And it had SO many good songs on it. And for me, it was just the beginning. I don't think I even knew who he was when I was given the album, but my brother could not have picked a better musician with which to introduce me to the world of music,  than someone as wholesome as JD. I fell in love. I knew every single word, and every nuance in his voice on every song., I knew where his voice would crack a little, where it would go up, or down. I knew the choruses and the verses. I could tell when he was smiling as he sang. I would play this album, and eventually EVERY Denver album I acquired, down to the day they were released in stores, on my turntable over and over and over. I would put it on repeat and go to sleep listening to him, and have my parents turn it off when they came to bed later on. 
     I imagined all kinds of dream-scenarios involving  John Denver and myself.  You know, he wrote and played these songs JUST for me. I went to concerts and he picked ME out of the crowd to bring back stage and serenade, and befriend. He invited ME to stay at his house in Colorado and took me out hiking in the mountains, we became friends and he took ME flying over the mountains, and always, always, he sang for me, JUST for me!!!   ... ah, young and silly.   Yes, yes I was. In reality, I was lucky enough to attend concerts of his at least three times I think, growing up. Buffalo and Rochester, both.  (Thank you, indulgent parents and other brother!) 
     When my nephew was  born, in 1978, I was then in my guitar-learning phase, (abandoned after college) and managed to learn Denver's "For Baby, For Bobby,"  which my friend and I played and sang, in public, at Michael Patrick's baptism, at church.  Thank goodness my deep and all-encompassing love for my baby nephew far obliterated the embarrassment I SHOULD have felt at exposing my very NON-Denver singing and playing abilities in public. But today, I listened to "For Baby, For Bobby," again on youtube, and if I closed my eyes, I could almost, ALMOST, feel 15 again, and could remember what it was like to have that very beloved infant nephew, instead of one who is 32 (still very much loved, just not quite the same?)
     So, as I sit here listening to the songs of the 70's, the songs I grew up with before my musical tastes matured and expanded a bit, tonight I'm glad that my mind is one of those places where one thing leads to another leads to another.  I've had a really nice trip down memory lane. I have NEVER loved another musical artist quite as much as my singleminded adoration of John Denver. I never, ever listen to him anymore, but maybe, once in awhile, just to keep in touch with who I was all those years ago, I should. Maybe, instead of looking for the Beatles, "Here Comes the Sun, " I should have been looking for "Sunshine on my Shoulders" all along. 
     And my experience makes me curious - do other people grow up with such singleminded musical tastes  before expanding their musical worlds?  Who did you cut your musical teeth on? And what do you listen to these days?  I think it's pretty funny to share that the first album I bought after I went off to college was AC/DC's "Back in Black," and it was all downhill from there, til I found myself, my TRUE self, again, somewhere near the end of, or shortly after, college.  Today, my musical tastes are so wide-ranging and varied, and I really like them that way.  I'm always open to more. Who do YOU recommend?