It’s really not about the Easter Bunny or a basket full of chocolates. It’s not about ham. Originally, Eastre (as it was called) was a pagan celebration of spring and new beginnings. Everything comes to life in the Spring. What’s not to love and celebrate about it? Yet, there isn’t a flower, a baby chick, new born bunnies or even an eaglet that is more worthy of celebrating than the new life of Jesus Christ. His resurrection gave us eternal life. Now, that’s something worth celebrating! Eastre was changed to Easter. It became a time to prepare new converts for baptism through intensive classes and instruction.  It was a time for long-standing Christians to review their lives and renew their commitment to Jesus Christ.  And, it was a time for backsliders to be restored to the faith. In every case, it is a time for serious, disciplined self-examination, a time spent in intensive prayer and repentance before the cross of Calvary. Have a Wonderful Easter! May we all celebrate our everlasting lives. Later, Mary Ann

I can’t imagine a world without music. Nothing compares to the soothing serenade of a well played violin or rag-time tunes as they dance off the keys of an old piano. Nothing gets under my skin and into my blood like the sweet crooning of a saxophone or the rich vocals of  folks like Roy Orbison or Christina Agulara. Yet, I spent yesterday in my yard, pulling weeds by the bucket load, where I enjoyed equally beautiful music of a much different kind.  I listened as the gentle waves lapped playfully onto the shore with a delicate rhythmic sound that was truly hypnotic.  The bay was so quiet that the water sounds echoed off the shore and mixed with the occasional cry of an eagle. I heard splashes and looked to see both seals and sea birds diving for food. Mix the lapping with the splashing with the screeching, and it was natures orchestra at it’s best. Or so one would think.

The fountain was located in the center of the small mountain village. It was encircled with shops and restaurants lining the outside parameter. Every thing faced the center of the town square where the fountain spouted in the warm afternoon sun. It was nearing evening and some of the cafe’s were busy serving red wine, huge kalamata olives and fresh aromatic breads. A cluster of old men crowded a bench that wrapped around the fountain, leaning around to talk to each other and smoke their cigarettes. They glanced our way occasionally, blowing smoke as their minds wandered – most likely down a trail of memories. Earlier times when they were young and spry, when their minds had yet to forget a friends name or the day of the week or how they once had little ones splashing in the fountain water as their grandchildren did now.

You didn’t know we had one, did you? A “sun”, that is. You know that thing I’m talking about. We all learned about it in elementary school. It’s part of the solar system – our planet has one of  it’s very own. You see it painted bright yellow by artists all around the world, or at least by those who have actually seen it. All those planets out there, with their own suns and moons. I remember the lesson quite well. It was in the time of my life when the sun made an appearance on a semi-regular basis. Of course, I didn’t live where I do now. I didn’t live here in the very green Pacific Northwest. I’ve not forgotten the days of my youth, warm sunny days. Dry air, dry lawn, dry hair, dry – ness. Yes, there was a time when things outside the house were dry. Not wet and soggy and muddy and moldy. Not damp and dark and cold. No; dry and warm and…dry.

I read a quote by a famous person the other day (I can’t remember who it was) that said: “Do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, weather you feel like it or not, and you will be successful in life.” I thought about that for quite a while and concluded that it is true. I know this because I started out the new year with a schedule. An actual Monday through Friday schedule. It incorporates rise and shine, coffee, prayer, exercise, shower, writing, house cleaning and quitting time, all together in a nice neat little package.  I find that following the schedule has allowed me to accomplish much more on a daily basis than I ever have. A schedule keeps me accountable for my time and accountability is important in life. It keeps us on our toes. One of my friends said she could never do that. She thinks it’s far too restrictive and too demanding. She’s right. It is. Yet, I need to practice self discipline because basically, I am a lazy person who will look for an easy out every chance I get. I’m capable of finding more excuses than there are dandelions…

Continue Reading→

They are brilliant in color, graceful if flight, delicate and harmless. The flight of a butterfly catches the eye with the grace of a classical ballet as it flutters from flower to flower. I watched a Monarch one day as it came through the forest following a small stream of mountain water melting off from the snow cap above. It’s decent was hard to follow as it flitted from place to place, landing for only seconds here and there. What must it be like to be a butterfly? To be so incredibly weightless as to get through life on the shirttail of a breeze and so beautiful to be compared only to the rarest of exquisite creations.

Why does it cost so much to live these days? Where in the world did today’s prices come from? (I know, I know, it’s all about the cost of oil! But let’s just muse about life, okay?) I mean, it used to be we could buy a whole house for the current cost of a luxury car.  When we were first married, our dream was to eventually work our way into a forty thousand dollar almost- mansion. A house like our parents had.  By the time we bought our first house, it was thirty eight thousand and about half the house we were hoping for. Maybe even less. And it was kind of cardboard-y. Not like the brick homes of our parents at all. I’m concerned about vegetables. The price of vegetable is going up steadily and soon will be a luxury to buy. I wish I still hated vegetables as I did when I was a kid. But now, I love them.  It’s actually just about all I want to eat. It’s possible that now is the time to try out gardening. Maybe start with little cherry tomatoes, carrots and onions and beats. That would be a nice start…

Continue Reading→

There must be a way to clean the house and keep it clean. I mean, after all, there are only two of us living here; well, four counting the dogs and they do contribute to the dirty floor what with eight paws traipsing in and out of the house all day long. But still, you would think it would be a lot cleaner than when the kids lived at home. And what about all the dishes? One would think doing dishes for two would be a snap, yet there are just as many pots and pans to wash when you make a stew for two as there would be if making stew for six. And suddenly, I am unable to locate my coffee cup from one moment to the next which is why I end up with two or three cups going before I’ve even had breakfast. And water glasses; fresh water glasses all day long. I used to keep one water glass going all day long. Now I keep all the water glasses in the house going every day, all day long. It adds up to a lot of dishes. There are times when we finish with dinner and …

Continue Reading→

We have a new addition in our family. His name is Miles. He is three years old, a mere eleven pounds and the most adorable little guy you’ve  ever seen. He is yellow, fluffy, loves almost every one he meets and best of all, he is going home to live with my dad. Miles has a big job to do. He must fill a giant gap in my fathers heart. Not used to living alone, it’s been a tough six months with no one to greet him when Dad walks through the door. Yet in just a few days we are trusting that Miles will become a treasured companion, greeting  him eagerly every morning, snuggle up for naps, and getting them both out the door every day for a little fresh air and exercise.

This is the way my days go here in the Pacific Northwest. I get up and drink a lot of coffee. Then, I start to get dressed beginning with a good study of the great outdoors. It is a little bit breezy out there by the looks of the trees and it’s been raining cuz the grounds all wet. The sun has gone behind the clouds so it’s looking kind of cold. Oh, now the sun is out and it’s looking like spring. So, do I need my long johns today or not? Okay, I opt out on the long johns. Normal undies but definitely wool socks. Jeans and a tank top. A long sleeved cotton shirt over the tank top. A cotton sweater over the shirt. An REI all weather fleece hoodie and then a down vest. I’ll wear warm water-proof gloves and a knitted hat and throw a scarf around my neck.